The Veteran's service-connected ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar spine is rated at 60 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes with total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months. The current 60 percent rating adequately reflects the Veteran's disability level based on the criteria for diseases and injuries of the spine.
- Claimed conditions
- ankylosing spondylitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- November 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19184272
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 19184272.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD and granted an effective date of May 31, 2004, but no earlier, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran did not express disagreement with any issue decided by the AOJ within the prior year.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for ankylosing spondylitis, finding that the evidence was at least in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's condition had its onset during his active military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and his military service.
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