The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his coronary artery bypass graft and scars were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence failed to show that the veteran met the criteria for a higher rating, including episodes of acute congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction between 30-50 percent. The scars did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as they were well-healed and did not cause any functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Coronary artery bypass graft, Scars of the left forearm, chest, and left leg
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2008
- Citation
- 0815706
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,020 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0815706.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease, DEA benefits, and SMC due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his original claims and the subsequent granting of a supplemental claim.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for his heart disorder is being remanded due to a duty to assist error, and a retrospective medical opinion is needed to assess the severity of his condition during the relevant time periods.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied a rating higher than 60 percent for the Veteran's heart disabilities and granted service connection for major vascular neurocognitive disorder, but denied special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l).
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted eligibility to attorney fees based on the past-due benefits awarded in the January 2024 rating decision.
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