The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease from 60% to 30% was granted, and the effective date is set at November 28, 2023. The back disability claim remains denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis. The right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve claim remains denied due to lack of moderate incomplete paralysis. The left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve claim has a granted effective date of November 28, 2023. The neurological impairment of the right foot due to stroke and right L5 radiculopathy associated with a stroke claim remains denied as there is no evidence of moderately severe incomplete paralysis. The stroke with neurological impairment of the right hand claim was granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's ischemic heart disease rating reduction from 60% to 30% was improper, and the effective date for this change has been restored to November 28, 2023.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic Heart Disease, Back Disability, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy of the Femoral Nerve, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy of the Sciatic Nerve, Neurological Impairment of the Right Foot due to Stroke and Right L5 Radiculopathy Associated with a Stroke, Stroke with Neurological Impairment of the Right Hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 20, 2026
- Citation
- A26004730
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 A26004730.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease was granted a 30% disability rating effective August 31, 2010. The condition manifested as cardiac hypertrophy and a workload of greater than 5.0 but less than 7.0 METs without congestive heart failure or LVEF of 50 percent or less.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA rating decision denying service connection for a right knee disability and a back disability is not supported by adequate medical opinions, and thus remands the case for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left knee disability, back disability, and left elbow disability must be remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran provided lay reports of symptoms but the VA examiners did not consider these reports in their conclusions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right eye, left eye, left knee, and back disabilities due to conflicting statements from the Veteran and inconsistencies in his medical records.
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