The Veteran's coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, status post myocardial infarction, and obstructed arterial disease of the lower extremities with claudication are etiologically related to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence establishes that the Veteran's use of tobacco products was a substantial factor in causing at least peripheral vascular cardiovascular disease, since cigarette smoking is the strongest risk factor for peripheral vascular disease. The VHA reviewer further opined that there was at least a 50 percent probability that the Veteran's other diagnosed cardiovascular disorders would not have occurred but for the use of tobacco products.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, status post myocardial infarction, obstructed arterial disease of the lower extremities with claudication
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2010
- Citation
- 1031474
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 1031474.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The claims for vertigo, breast cancer, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to insufficient development of evidence regarding toxic exposure risk activities (TERA). The claim for coronary atherosclerotic disease is also remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD), status post myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), with cardiomegaly, and valvular heart disease. The examiner must address the impact of medication on the Veteran's disability.
- Granted
The Veteran's status post myocardial infarction and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as secondary to his service-connected orthopedic injuries.
- Granted
The Veteran's heart disability was granted a 60% rating prior to July 8, 2020, and a 100% rating from that date forward.
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