The Board granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (CAD) with bypass graft as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, and granted a 20 percent disability rating from July 15, 2021 through February 15, 2023 for certain diabetic neuropathies, while denying earlier effective dates and increased ratings for other conditions.

The deciding factor: The evidence was in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's coronary artery disease, status post CABG is aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and whether the Veteran's hypertensive heart disease is caused by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

Claimed conditions

Arteriosclerotic heart disease (CAD) with bypass graft, Coronary artery disease, status post CABG, Hypertensive heart disease, Comedones of the back and buttocks, Right inguinal hernia scar, Scar; distal PIP right thumb (right thumb scar), Somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain (previously rated as panic disorder without agoraphobia)

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

December 23, 2025

Citation

A25110266

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