The veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected heart condition, frostbite of the hands and feet, hiatal hernia with acid reflux, bilateral knee strain, left shoulder strain, and frostbite of the feet have all been denied. The initial evaluation for status post myocardial infarction with coronary artery angioplasty and stent placement remains at 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The veteran's heart condition is currently rated as 30 percent disabling due to a workload limit of 7 METs, which does not meet the criteria for higher evaluations based on left ventricular dysfunction or congestive heart failure.
- Claimed conditions
- status post myocardial infarction with coronary artery angioplasty and stent placement, frostbite of the left hand with residual of mild edema, frostbite of the right hand with residual of mild edema, hiatal hernia with acid reflux, bilateral knee strain with degenerative changes, left shoulder strain with mild degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- February 3, 2003
- Citation
- 0302078
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 0302078.
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.
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- Remanded (sent back)
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- Granted
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- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of his left foot, as there was no evidence showing that the service-connected conditions resulted in functional limitation equal to that of amputation of the left foot with prosthesis.
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