The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of February 5, 2020, for the grant of service connection for peripheral arterial disease and a 100 percent evaluation for heart disease.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral artery disease manifested prior to his initial claim in February 2020, thus granting an effective date of February 5, 2020, but no earlier. The increased rating was granted based on continuous symptoms and a need for continuous medication.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral arterial disease, Heart disease (coronary artery disease, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, and angioplasty with stent placement)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- July 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25056710
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 a heart condition to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding whether the Veteran's current heart condition is related to service, including in-service treatment for hypertension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected cardiovascular disability, but denied a higher rating from December 15, 2022, through September 14, 2025.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a temporary rating of 100 percent for his heart disability from March 1, 2021 to June 1, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 60 percent prior to and after this period was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for asthma, chronic sinusitis, recurrent bronchitis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, myocardial infarction, sleep apnea, stroke, right ear hearing loss, and hemorrhoids. The Veteran was also denied a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss.
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.