The Veteran's status post coronary artery bypass graft is currently evaluated at 60 percent disabling, which meets the criteria for a 100 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7017. The claims for increased evaluations of his degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's coronary artery bypass graft resulted in an estimated METs level of 3, which meets the criteria for a 100 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7017. The degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine does not meet the criteria for higher ratings as it did not result in unfavorable ankylosis, incapacitating episodes, or associated neurological disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- Coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass graft
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- June 25, 2012
- Citation
- 1222067
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 1222067.
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 is granted effective dates for awards of SMC at various rates, with the earliest being December 13, 2023. The SMC is awarded based on his service-connected conditions and their impact on his daily life.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, and lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus. The right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathies were denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease prior to March 21, 2013 is denied as his workload was less than 7 METs and he did not have cardiac hypertrophy or dilation. For the period from March 21, 2013 onwards, a higher rating of 60 percent is denied due to lack of more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30-50%. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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.