{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/cardiomyopathy","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:33:50.842Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Cardiomyopathy","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":1624,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":16.2,"denied_pct":23.8,"remanded_pct":58.3,"granted_on_merits_pct":40.5,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":112,"granted_pct":8.9,"denied_pct":34.8,"remanded_pct":53.6},{"year":2018,"issues":202,"granted_pct":11.4,"denied_pct":27.2,"remanded_pct":57.9},{"year":2019,"issues":187,"granted_pct":9.6,"denied_pct":25.7,"remanded_pct":63.6},{"year":2020,"issues":164,"granted_pct":13.4,"denied_pct":37.2,"remanded_pct":48.8},{"year":2021,"issues":173,"granted_pct":15,"denied_pct":20.2,"remanded_pct":62.4},{"year":2022,"issues":185,"granted_pct":11.9,"denied_pct":22.7,"remanded_pct":63.2},{"year":2023,"issues":162,"granted_pct":19.8,"denied_pct":19.1,"remanded_pct":59.9},{"year":2024,"issues":192,"granted_pct":18.8,"denied_pct":10.9,"remanded_pct":67.7},{"year":2025,"issues":184,"granted_pct":26.6,"denied_pct":21.7,"remanded_pct":51.1},{"year":2026,"issues":82,"granted_pct":34.1,"denied_pct":18.3,"remanded_pct":45.1}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":73,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":182,"granted_pct_with":76.2,"granted_pct_without":31.6},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":1166,"granted_pct_with":36.3,"granted_pct_without":56.7},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":293,"granted_pct_with":79.7,"granted_pct_without":22.2},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":941,"granted_pct_with":35.4,"granted_pct_without":50.5},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":589,"granted_pct_with":51.1,"granted_pct_without":31.1},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":114,"granted_pct_with":65.6,"granted_pct_without":37.8},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":1132,"granted_pct_with":32.5,"granted_pct_without":65.6},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":75,"granted_pct_with":42.4,"granted_pct_without":40.4}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":32},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":27},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":16},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":6},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":4},{"reason":"no evidence to the contrary","decisions":3}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":61},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":59},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":55},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":48},{"reason":"no continuity of symptomatology","decisions":17},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":13}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26038503","year":2026,"judge":"L. STEPANICK","rationale":"Diagnosis of CHF with bradycardia and pacemaker established.; Veteran is service-connected for hypertension.; VA examiner diagnosed CHF from hypertension and found TERA risks outweighed."},{"case_id":"A26037692","year":2026,"judge":"M. SORISIO","rationale":"Current disability established (cardiomyopathy, CHF, heart transplant); Service-connected PTSD established; Private medical opinion from Dr. M.S. found PTSD caused CAD, which caused CHF; Opinion supported by medical literature linking anxiety/PTSD to CAD risk; Board found opinion persuasive despite … [truncated, 35 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26035377","year":2026,"judge":"ANTHONY C. SCIRÉ, JR","rationale":"Favorable private medical opinion linking heart disability to in-service hypertension; In-service hypertension documented; Evidence in equipoise, benefit of doubt applied"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26039290","year":2026,"judge":"MARCUS N. FULTON","rationale":"No in-service heart issues documented; Post-service records did not document heart failure; Lay opinion on secondary causation incompetent"},{"case_id":"A26038392","year":2026,"judge":"DAVID H. ROBERTSON","rationale":"No in-service onset or treatment for CHF/atrial fibrillation/AICD; Private opinion lacked probative value due to timeline discrepancy; March 2025 VA examiner could not establish baseline severity for aggravation claim; May 2025 VA examiner found less likely than not related to service"},{"case_id":"A26037126","year":2026,"judge":"L. HOWELL","rationale":"No evidence of in-service incurrence; Private opinion lacked probative value (correlational, speculative); Weight gain not linked to service-connected disabilities"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}