The veteran's claim for an increased rating for dorsal spine disability was denied. The VA rated the condition as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5291.,The veteran's claim of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for coronary artery disease, status post angioplasty and bypass grafting was also denied. The VA determined that the surgery did not cause additional disability.
The deciding factor: The VA found no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5291.,The VA concluded that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not caused by the May 1995 surgery, as it did not result in additional disability.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a dorsal spine disability, coronary artery disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 8, 2002
- Citation
- 0207359
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 0207359.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease, which is presumed related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, left eye diabetic retinopathy, left foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease, as well as the Veteran's cause of death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for coronary artery disease to correct duty to assist errors, as there are no adequate medical opinions of record.
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