Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) VA disability rating & claim guide

Yes. The VA rates Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) under VASRD diagnostic code 7005 (Cardiovascular System). Coronary artery disease is the narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart, usually from plaque buildup, which can cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, and fatigue with exertion. It's a PACT Act presumptive condition for many Vietnam-era veterans with qualifying Agent Orange exposure.

Possible VA ratings for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) are 100%, 60%, 30%, 10%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 100%: Workload of 3.0 METs or less results in heart failure symptoms; 60%: Workload of 3.1-5.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; 30%: Workload of 5.1-7.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by echocardiogram or equivalent (e.g., multigated acquisition scan or magnetic resonance imaging).

Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) at around 30%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. Per the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), veterans receiving VA compensation as of September 30, 2025 had 266,518 service-connected disabilities rated as Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The report counts disabilities, not veterans. Estimated approval outlook: High – especially for Vietnam-era vets due to presumptive status.

Strong evidence for a Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) claim includes: Cardiology reports, EKGs, and - most importantly - a documented METs test, since that's the specific measurement the rating schedule uses; Echocardiogram or cardiac catheterization results confirming the diagnosis and severity of arterial narrowing; Hospital or ER records documenting chest pain, angina episodes, or related cardiac events.

VA's Heart Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."

Common pitfalls when filing for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Describing chest pain or fatigue without connecting it to a specific diagnosed cardiac event or exam finding, which makes it harder for a rater to link the symptom to CAD specifically; Submitting incomplete cardiac testing data - a partial workup often results in the VA defaulting to a lower rating than the full picture would support.

Yes, for a veteran who meets a presumption's conditions. 38 CFR 3.309(e) names "Ischemic heart disease (including, but not limited to, acute, subacute, and old myocardial infarction; atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease including coronary artery disease (including coronary spasm) and coronary bypass surgery; and stable, unstable and Prinzmetal's angina)" among the diseases associated with herbicide agents, for a veteran exposed to one during service. The regulation presumes that exposure for service in Vietnam, including its offshore waters, from January 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975; in a unit that, as the Department of Defense determined, operated in or near the Korean DMZ where herbicides were applied, from April 1, 1968 to August 31, 1971; or, in the Air Force or Air Force Reserve, regularly and repeatedly aboard C-123 aircraft used to spray herbicides (38 CFR 3.307(a)(6)). The statute, 38 U.S.C. 1116, 1116A and 1116B, also covers U.S. or Royal Thai bases in Thailand, Laos, Mimot or Krek in Cambodia, Guam or American Samoa or their territorial waters, Johnston Atoll or a ship that called there, and the DMZ from September 1, 1967, each in its own period. 38 CFR 3.309(c)(1) names "Atherosclerotic heart disease" among the diseases specific to former prisoners of war, if it became manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more at any time after discharge. Each presumption gives way to affirmative evidence to the contrary (38 CFR 3.307(d)).

38 CFR 3.310(c): "Ischemic heart disease or other cardiovascular disease developing in a veteran who has a service-connected amputation of one lower extremity at or above the knee or service-connected amputations of both lower extremities at or above the ankles, shall be held to be the proximate result of the service-connected amputation or amputations." 38 CFR 3.310(c) does not define "other cardiovascular disease". The rating schedule evaluates Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in its cardiovascular section, 38 CFR 4.104.

Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), when a medical opinion links them, include: Hypertension. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.