The Board has determined that the veteran's ankylosing spondylitis pre-existed his active service and was aggravated by it. The condition substantially contributed to the cause of death, which was respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence shows that the veteran's ankylosing spondylitis increased in severity during his active service and substantially contributed to his death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2001
- Citation
- 0124960
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 0124960.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for PTSD, TDIU and DEA benefits was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent for PTSD with TBI.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial disability rating for his service-connected back disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and addendum medical opinion addressing the severity of his condition throughout the appeal period.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for ankylosing spondylitis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and right elbow chronic bursitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's low back disability, including SI joint dysfunction and mild arthritic changes in the thoracic spine, ankylosing spondylitis, and degenerative arthritis of the spine, is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding its onset during service.
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