The Veteran's heart disability prior to August 17, 2015 is not manifest by chronic congestive heart failure, more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure, a workload of 5 METs or less, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 50 percent or less. Therefore, the claim for an increased initial evaluation for ischemic heart disease status post bypass graft (CABG) with residual paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is denied.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence prior to August 17, 2015 did not show chronic congestive heart failure, a workload of 5 METs or less, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 50 percent or less.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease, Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19104921
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
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- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 8, 2015, for the award of service connection for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and a 30 percent rating from January 8, 2015, to December 31, 2016.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension from August 10, 2022, under the PACT Act. The claim for a thyroid disability was denied.
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