The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis and a compensable rating for gastritis, finding that there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology or causation between the conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran did not have ankylosing spondylitis during service or within one year of separation, and that it is less likely as not related to any in-service injury or disease. For gastritis, there was no evidence of nodular lesions, eroded or ulcerated areas, or severe hemorrhages.
- Claimed conditions
- ankylosing spondylitis, gastritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19191268
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 19191268.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 60 percent from January 27, 2016 to July 7, 2022 for the Veteran's duodenal ulcer, duodenitis, gastritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- 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).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a compensable rating and an increased rating for gastritis, gastroenteritis, and GERD to obtain a retrospective medical opinion on the severity of the Veteran's symptoms without the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected gastritis.
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