The Veteran's initial increased rating for ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease with residuals of coronary artery bypass graft surgery is denied.,The Veteran's initial increased rating for type 2 diabetes mellitus is denied.,The Veteran's effective date for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran’s ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease meets the criteria for a higher than 60 percent rating under DC 7017.,The evidence shows that the Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus does not require treatment with insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities to warrant a 40 percent rating. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for this condition.,There was no communication prior to August 30, 2016 that established an informal or formal intent to file a claim of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The effective date assigned in the March 2017 rating decision is based on the date of the August 30, 2016 claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease, Coronary artery disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19136495
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,911 · Granted: 10% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19136495.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 30 percent prior to July 18, 2014, and a higher than 60 percent rating thereafter for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to incomplete evidence. The examiner needs to provide more detailed information about the severity of his service-connected condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart condition was granted with an effective date of August 1, 2019. The decision is based on evidence showing exposure to diesel and gas fuel during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for ischemic heart disease due to a failure by the AOJ to request SSA records, which were not available.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction, status post stent placement, as well as obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.
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.