The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected ankylosing spondylitis with HLA-B27 is denied. The Board has remanded the claims regarding hearing loss, tinnitus, and effective dates as well as SMC determination.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5002 due to the Veteran's ankylosing spondylitis with HLA-B27.
- Claimed conditions
- Ankylosing Spondylitis, HLA-B27
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20078304
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 20078304.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for ankylosing spondylitis and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployment (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as there was no evidence that his service-connected conditions prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as there is no current diagnosis of CFS at any time during or contemporaneous to the pendency of the Veteran's appeal. The medical evidence does not support his claim of service connection for CFS.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left spontaneous pneumothorax as his claim was already granted in a prior rating decision. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and ankylosing spondylitis are remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted reopening of the claim for service connection for a low back disability, but denied the claim itself due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.
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