The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 60 percent for coronary atherosclerosis of native coronary vessel with coronary artery disease, symptomatic bradycardia status post implanted cardiac pacemaker, valvular heart disease, and hypertensive heart disease is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran has had chronic congestive heart failure or a workload of 3 METs or less resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope or heart failure symptoms (include, but are not limited to, breathlessness, fatigue, angina, dizziness, arrhythmia, palpitations, or syncope) throughout the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary atherosclerosis of native coronary vessel, coronary artery disease, symptomatic bradycardia status post implanted cardiac pacemaker, valvular heart disease, hypertensive heart disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- November 29, 2023
- Citation
- 23063128
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 23063128.
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.
- 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 Veteran's claims for increased ratings for valvular heart disease, peripheral vascular disease of the right and left legs, and hypertension were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.
- 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.
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.