The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to May 31, 2012 was denied. The condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to METS testing showing a level of 7.,For the period from May 31, 2012, the Veteran's CAD claim was also denied as his METS test results were consistently above 5, which is the threshold for a 60 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s coronary artery disease did not meet the criteria for higher ratings due to insufficient evidence of congestive heart failure or LVEF below 30%.
- Claimed conditions
- Coronary artery disease (CAD), post-myocardial infarction and stent replacement, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Dysthymic disorder, Alcohol abuse
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19186552
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.
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- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
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- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities prior to February 14, 2025, as the evidence did not show that he was precluded from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the appeal period.
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