The veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and hypertensive vascular disease were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either version of the applicable VA rating schedule.
The deciding factor: The veteran's cardiovascular conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on the current versions of the VA rating schedules, which require specific findings such as left ventricular dysfunction or an ejection fraction below certain thresholds to warrant a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease, Hypertensive Vascular Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- June 15, 2004
- Citation
- 0415306
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 464 · Granted: 21% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0415306.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted a 100% rating, and the appeal for an increased rating of their service-connected cardiac condition is dismissed. The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on their service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's heart disability was granted a 100% rating from December 12, 2024 to February 13, 2025 due to hospital admission for quintuple bypass surgery. A higher rating is denied after this period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertensive vascular disease, as well as increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Denied
The Veteran's hypertensive vascular disease was rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on diastolic pressure being predominantly 120 or more.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.