If everything hurts but you’re told you “look healthy,” something is getting lost in translation. The VA doesn’t rate appearances — they rate what’s documented about pain, frequency, flare-ups, and how conditions affect daily function. When knees, back, and headaches are brushed off instead of clearly evaluated, real issues get minimized on paper. Proper medical documentation is what turns “you look fine” into evidence the VA can actually rate. Question: Have you ever been told you’re fine even