The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20% since February 22, 2013. The Board has granted an initial rating of 20% for the lumbar spine disability beginning February 22, 2013. However, other issues such as service connection for a spleen disability and right knee disability are remanded due to lack of proper examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has resulted in forward flexion for the thoracolumbar spine of approximately 45 degrees since February 22, 2013. The Board found that this approximates a 20% rating under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, spleen disability, stroke residuals
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 10, 2018
- Citation
- 18141205
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 18141205.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and lumbar radicopathy, right side, secondary to the lumbosacral strain.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the exception of remanding certain issues.
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