Veteran Heart Disease Claim Denial | Appealing VA’s Decision

Dealing with a denial of a veteran disability claim for heart disease can leave you incredibly frustrated. Having a VA disability lawyer on your side, on the other hand, can help you navigate your claim and seek the assistance in paying for medical care that you deserve.

The VA may deny a disability claim related to heart disease for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, you may face a claim denial because you cannot show a link between your service and your disability, or because you did not show signs of heart disease or receive a formal diagnosis while on active duty. If the VA denies your disability claim, you do not have to handle it on your own! An experienced VA disability attorney can help you learn more about how to get help paying for your heart disease expenses, including how to appeal the claim denial.

VA disability ratings assign a level of disability based on the symptoms you have at specific levels of exertion. To rate heart disease, the VA will check METs, or metabolic equivalents, for certain types of exercise and determine what symptoms you have at those levels of exertion. Do you experience shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, or even fainting with certain types of exercise? At what point do you experience those levels of exertion?

For example, if climbing a flight of stairs, rated at around 5-7 METs, causes shortness of breath and chest pain, you may receive at least a 10% disability rating. On the other hand, if you experience those symptoms when engaging in lighter exertion, like going for a long walk around the neighborhood, you could expect as much as a 30%-60% disability rating. If you have symptoms of heart failure, you may also receive a 60% disability rating. If you reach the point where you are in chronic congestive heart failure, or you experience symptoms of heart disease with the normal tasks of daily living, including slow walking, showering, or simply eating, you may receive a 100% disability rating.

Service-related heart disease can occur for a variety of reasons.

Direct Service Causes

Some causes of heart disease are a direct result of the veteran’s service in the military. Sometimes, you might suffer specific symptoms of heart disease while in service, which would allow a service-connected disability. You may also have a specific event that is connected to your heart disease, including exposure to certain types of chemicals and environmental hazards known to cause heart disease.

Presumptive Service Causes

In some cases, service-related heart disease may occur for presumed reasons: because you served during a specific area, during a specific time, the VA may assume that you faced exposure to a specific chemical or hazard that could have increased the risk of heart disease. For example, veterans who served in Vietnam and certain other areas are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. This exposure places veterans in a high risk category for developing hypertension, ischemic heart disease (otherwise known as coronary artery disease) and other heart disorders.

Secondary Service Connections

Sometimes, you may develop symptoms of heart disease as a result of other conditions you suffered while in service. Some veterans with diabetes, for example, may have a higher risk of developing heart disease. Furthermore, PTSD may also exacerbate or lead to the diagnosis of specific heart conditions. You may also need to take medications for a service-connected condition that can increase your risk of developing heart disease, or increase your symptoms (which may lead to VA establishing service connection by aggravation).