The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date prior to August 8, 2023, for service connection of coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support an earlier effective date as it was determined that the Veteran's claim was received more than one year after his separation from service and the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease was not based on a liberalizing law such as the PACT Act.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25023131
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnea, all of which are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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.