Service connection for PTSD and secondary substance abuse disorder is granted. A rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease from July 17, 2014 through April 13, 2018 and from August 1, 2018 through June 25, 2019 is denied. A rating in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease from June 26, 2019 is also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD was related to his service in Vietnam and his substance abuse disorder was secondary to his PTSD. The evidence did not show that the workload of 7 METS or less resulted in dyspnea, angina, and fatigue due to coronary artery disease alone from July 17, 2014 through April 13, 2018 and from August 1, 2018 through June 25, 2019. From June 26, 2019, congestive heart failure was not shown.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD, substance abuse disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19187496
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 19187496.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
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