The Veteran's service-connected Ischemic Heart Disease/Coronary Artery Disease (IHD/CAD) alone does not meet the criteria for a Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
The deciding factor: The Veteran has other service-connected disabilities, including Degenerative Disc Disease of the thoracolumbar spine and Radiculopathy of both lower extremities, which limit his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic Heart Disease/Coronary Artery Disease (IHD/CAD), Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the thoracolumbar spine, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE), Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- February 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23012380
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 23012380.
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 appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examiner's opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities result in loss of use and if so, whether he requires aid and attendance without considering such disability/ies. The Veteran also needs to be considered for SMC R1 based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity, finding moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerves.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment or incapacitating episodes.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD with TBI, a 20 percent rating effective July 13, 2023 for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and thoracic disc degeneration, and a separate 10 percent rating effective July 13, 2023 for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The Board denied higher ratings for cervical spine conditions, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and other conditions including hearing loss, fractured finger, and deviated nasal septum, while remanding two issues for further consideration.
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.