{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/coronary-artery-disease","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:19.735Z","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","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":1303,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":29.8,"denied_pct":19.3,"remanded_pct":49.9,"granted_on_merits_pct":60.7,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":126,"granted_pct":20.6,"denied_pct":27,"remanded_pct":47.6},{"year":2018,"issues":275,"granted_pct":21.8,"denied_pct":26.9,"remanded_pct":48.7},{"year":2019,"issues":218,"granted_pct":32.1,"denied_pct":18.8,"remanded_pct":47.2},{"year":2020,"issues":151,"granted_pct":31.8,"denied_pct":14.6,"remanded_pct":51.7},{"year":2021,"issues":138,"granted_pct":34.1,"denied_pct":18.1,"remanded_pct":44.2},{"year":2022,"issues":131,"granted_pct":27.5,"denied_pct":12.2,"remanded_pct":55},{"year":2023,"issues":108,"granted_pct":35.2,"denied_pct":20.4,"remanded_pct":42.6},{"year":2024,"issues":100,"granted_pct":30,"denied_pct":22,"remanded_pct":46},{"year":2025,"issues":69,"granted_pct":37.7,"denied_pct":8.7,"remanded_pct":53.6},{"year":2026,"issues":34,"granted_pct":38.2,"denied_pct":8.8,"remanded_pct":52.9}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":60.6,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":149,"granted_pct_with":77,"granted_pct_without":57.7},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":783,"granted_pct_with":51.1,"granted_pct_without":78.1},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":171,"granted_pct_with":76.4,"granted_pct_without":58.2},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":458,"granted_pct_with":51.4,"granted_pct_without":65.6},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":439,"granted_pct_with":60.5,"granted_pct_without":60.8},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":66,"granted_pct_with":67.6,"granted_pct_without":60.3},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":880,"granted_pct_with":56.4,"granted_pct_without":70.4},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":102,"granted_pct_with":64.2,"granted_pct_without":60.4}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":57},{"reason":"veteran served in thailand during vietnam era","decisions":16},{"reason":"coronary artery disease is presumptively linked to herbicide exposure","decisions":10},{"reason":"presumed exposure to herbicide agents","decisions":9},{"reason":"veteran diagnosed with coronary artery disease","decisions":8},{"reason":"coronary artery disease is a presumptive condition for herbicide exposure","decisions":8}],"denied":[{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":25},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":19},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":12},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":8},{"reason":"no chronic congestive heart failure","decisions":6},{"reason":"no continuity of symptomatology","decisions":6}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26036585","year":2026,"judge":"ANTHONY C. SCIRÉ, JR","rationale":"Diagnosed during service; Evidence in approximate balance; AOJ's assessment of asymptomatic bradycardia and non-disabling calcification was unclear"},{"case_id":"A26028937","year":2026,"judge":"D. MARTZ AMES","rationale":"Veteran served in Republic of Vietnam during Vietnam Era; Presumptive exposure to herbicide agents under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e); Ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease, is presumptively associated with herbicide exposure"},{"case_id":"26003870","year":2026,"judge":"M. C. GRAHAM","rationale":"Veteran served in Vietnam, triggering herbicide exposure presumption.; Coronary artery disease is presumptively linked to herbicide exposure.; VA examination noted diagnosis and pacemaker; AOJ previously granted favorably."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26038863","year":2026,"judge":"JONATHAN B. KRAMER","rationale":"No in-service complaints or treatment for cardiovascular conditions.; Normal separation examination findings.; No post-service treatment linking condition to service.; No medical opinion supporting diesel fume nexus.; Veteran missed scheduled VA examination without good cause.; Evidence weighed agai… [truncated, 23 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26018148","year":2026,"judge":"J.W. ZISSIMOS","rationale":"Workload of 3.1-5.0 METs with symptoms, not 3.0 METs or less; No acute congestive heart failure episodes in the past year; Claim filed more than three months post-surgery"},{"case_id":"A26004699","year":2026,"judge":"L. CHU","rationale":"Service treatment records silent for coronary artery disease.; Diagnosed post-service in February 2016.; VA examiner opined less likely than not caused by service.; VA examiner opined less likely than not related to service-connected hypertension.; Examiner attributed condition to risk factors (age,… [truncated, 209 chars omitted]"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}