The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease and irritable bowel syndrome with hookworm disease have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support an increase in disability ratings to reflect more severe impairment of the veteran's health conditions, particularly given the METs score indicating functional capacity between 4 and 5, which is insufficient to warrant a 100% evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- ischemic heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome and hookworm disease with anemia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- May 26, 2004
- Citation
- 0413389
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 0413389.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board grants service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his period of active duty service. The claims for ischemic heart disease, aortic valve replacement, status post aortic stenosis, and peripheral vascular disease with popliteal aneurysm are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, as the previous opinions were found inadequate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of a heart condition, to include ischemic heart disease and/or cardiomyopathy due to cardiac amyloidosis, for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected cardiovascular disability, but denied a higher rating from December 15, 2022, through September 14, 2025.
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