The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent rating for ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar spine is granted. The claim for SMC at the (s) rate is also granted, as the Veteran meets the criteria under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of both a 100 percent disability rating and SMC.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has unfavorable ankylosis of his entire spine, which meets the criteria for a 100 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Veteran is also in receipt of a 60 percent rating for chronic kidney disease with hypertension, satisfying the requirement for additional service-connected disability or disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.
- Claimed conditions
- ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar spine, chronic kidney disease with hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 4, 2022
- Citation
- 22020125
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 22020125.
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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar spine is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for increased ratings for chronic kidney disease with hypertension and right knee disability, as well as remanded the claim for a higher rating for right knee disability prior to November 11, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a skin condition, sleep apnea, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic kidney disease with hypertension to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of December 1, 2011, for initial disability ratings and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) but denied earlier effective dates or increased ratings for other conditions.
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