The Veteran's heart disability, which includes rheumatic fever with secondary rheumatic heart mitral valve disease and coronary artery disease with single vessel stent placement, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's METs were estimated at 8 METs based on symptoms and restrictions from COPD, which was less than the required threshold for increased ratings under Diagnostic Code 7000. His heart disability did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or TDIU as his condition did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- rheumatic fever with secondary rheumatic heart mitral valve disease, coronary artery disease with single vessel stent placement, cardiac arrhythmia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- August 28, 2015
- Citation
- 1536999
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 1536999.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory insufficiency dyspnea, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), cardiac arrhythmia, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as they have already been granted by a previous VA rating decision.,The Board has also dismissed the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis due to lack of evidence showing greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that they are attributable to his time in service and supported by medical opinions. The PACT Act presumption applies.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to a failure to notify the Veteran of his right to a hearing before the AOJ prior to issuance of an initial decision on appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to insufficient evidence of record, including a lack of clinical VA and private examinations that are necessary to evaluate his service-connected disabilities under applicable rating criteria.
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.