The Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbar spine disability has been reopened and is granted. The Board finds that the evidence raises a reasonable possibility of establishing the claim, as it indicates that the Veteran's (variously diagnosed) lumbar spine disability may be related to service. The Veteran also received an additional 10 percent rating for left knee instability from April 24, 2012 through March 25, 2013.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran's Schmorl's nodes and lumbar disc disease with sciatica may be related to service due to their localized development in the thoracolumbar spine rather than throughout all regions of the vertebrae.
- Claimed conditions
- Schmorl's nodes, lumbar disc disease with sciatica
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 1, 2016
- Citation
- 1608068
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1608068.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine condition, claimed as Schmorl's nodes and degenerative changes, is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board requires the AOJ to obtain inpatient treatment records from Tripler Army Medical Center and provide medical opinions regarding the cause of his cervical spine disability.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on forward flexion greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his spine disability due to outstanding VA treatment records and an inadequate examination. The Veteran is advised that failure to report for the scheduled examination will result in denial of his claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his spine disability is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess additional functional loss due to flare-ups and proper range of motion testing.
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