The Veteran's heart disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling prior to January 27, 2016. A 100 percent rating is granted from January 27, 2016 for hypertensive heart disease, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation with implanted pacemaker and automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's heart disability was rated as 30 percent disabling prior to January 27, 2016 due to the absence of more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year or a left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent. From January 27, 2016, the Veteran's disability is rated as 100 percent disabling due to the presence of an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD).
- Claimed conditions
- hypertensive heart disease, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation with implanted pacemaker and automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- August 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20052560
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 20052560.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and stroke as there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during service and the medical opinions were against a nexus to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Korea.
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.