{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/coronary-artery-disease-cad","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:22.567Z","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":"Coronary artery disease (cad)","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":627,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":19.1,"denied_pct":15,"remanded_pct":62.5,"granted_on_merits_pct":56.1,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":51,"granted_pct":9.8,"denied_pct":19.6,"remanded_pct":58.8},{"year":2018,"issues":95,"granted_pct":7.4,"denied_pct":24.2,"remanded_pct":60},{"year":2019,"issues":92,"granted_pct":22.8,"denied_pct":16.3,"remanded_pct":58.7},{"year":2020,"issues":64,"granted_pct":31.3,"denied_pct":17.2,"remanded_pct":50},{"year":2021,"issues":70,"granted_pct":8.6,"denied_pct":14.3,"remanded_pct":72.9},{"year":2022,"issues":77,"granted_pct":20.8,"denied_pct":15.6,"remanded_pct":62.3},{"year":2023,"issues":75,"granted_pct":26.7,"denied_pct":10.7,"remanded_pct":58.7},{"year":2024,"issues":47,"granted_pct":23.4,"denied_pct":10.6,"remanded_pct":63.8},{"year":2025,"issues":47,"granted_pct":25.5,"denied_pct":8.5,"remanded_pct":63.8},{"year":2026,"issues":25,"granted_pct":12,"denied_pct":12,"remanded_pct":72}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":65.8,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":97,"granted_pct_with":70,"granted_pct_without":51.8},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":415,"granted_pct_with":49.7,"granted_pct_without":72.9},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":104,"granted_pct_with":78,"granted_pct_without":50.9},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":254,"granted_pct_with":50.6,"granted_pct_without":59.4},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":224,"granted_pct_with":57.9,"granted_pct_without":54.6},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":44,"granted_pct_with":64.7,"granted_pct_without":55.3},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":434,"granted_pct_with":54.8,"granted_pct_without":59.3},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":40,"granted_pct_with":58.3,"granted_pct_without":55.9}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":12},{"reason":"veteran diagnosed with cad","decisions":4},{"reason":"veteran served in thailand during vietnam era","decisions":4},{"reason":"presumed exposure to herbicide agents due to vietnam service","decisions":2},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":2},{"reason":"cad is presumptively linked to herbicide exposure under 38 c.f.r. § 3.309(e)","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":11},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":7},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":3},{"reason":"continuity of symptomatology since service","decisions":2},{"reason":"hypertension not service-connected","decisions":2},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":2}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26019651","year":2026,"judge":"J.P. NORMAN","rationale":"PACT Act expanded presumptive herbicide exposure to Guam.; CAD is an enumerated disease under 38 U.S.C. § 1116.; Service records confirm in-service presence in Guam."},{"case_id":"26001951","year":2026,"judge":"K. PARAKKAL","rationale":"Addendum medical opinions from November 2025 found it at least as likely as not that panic disorder aggravates the conditions.; Examiner reasoned recurrent panic attacks can increase chest wall tension, perceived pain sensitivity, and trigger arrhythmia episodes or chest discomfort.; Board found com… [truncated, 91 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26006182","year":2026,"judge":"BETHANY L. BUCK","rationale":"Evidence in equipoise from July 25, 2025, regarding METs level.; Benefit of the doubt applied due to equipoise.; Private opinion from Dr. K.G. assessed METs level as 3.0-5.0."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26006182","year":2026,"judge":"BETHANY L. BUCK","rationale":"Evidence reflected METs level of 5.1-7.0 during this period.; Veteran's CAD did not meet criteria for higher rating.; VA examinations in Oct 2020 and Dec 2022 assessed METs at 5.1-7.0."},{"case_id":"A25075491","year":2025,"judge":"T. MAINELLI","rationale":"Condition controlled with continuous medication; No further heart failure symptoms or functional impact noted; VA examination did not elicit symptoms at any METs level"},{"case_id":"A25014980","year":2025,"judge":"L. HOWELL","rationale":"No in-service complaints, treatment, or diagnosis of CV disorder or symptoms.; Separation examination reflected normal heart/vascular evaluation.; No direct nexus established by healthcare professional.; No chronic CV disease shown in service or continuity of symptomatology.; Veteran's duties did no… [truncated, 69 chars omitted]"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}