{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/ischemic-heart-disease","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:13.896Z","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":"Ischemic heart disease","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":1037,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":37.6,"denied_pct":22.5,"remanded_pct":37.3,"granted_on_merits_pct":62.6,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":127,"granted_pct":40.9,"denied_pct":29.1,"remanded_pct":26.8},{"year":2018,"issues":295,"granted_pct":38,"denied_pct":26.4,"remanded_pct":32.5},{"year":2019,"issues":169,"granted_pct":36.1,"denied_pct":24.3,"remanded_pct":37.3},{"year":2020,"issues":122,"granted_pct":32,"denied_pct":21.3,"remanded_pct":45.1},{"year":2021,"issues":71,"granted_pct":29.6,"denied_pct":18.3,"remanded_pct":43.7},{"year":2022,"issues":80,"granted_pct":43.8,"denied_pct":12.5,"remanded_pct":41.3},{"year":2023,"issues":80,"granted_pct":40,"denied_pct":18.8,"remanded_pct":37.5},{"year":2024,"issues":59,"granted_pct":33.9,"denied_pct":13.6,"remanded_pct":49.2},{"year":2025,"issues":34,"granted_pct":41.2,"denied_pct":11.8,"remanded_pct":47.1}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":74.4,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":124,"granted_pct_with":85.1,"granted_pct_without":59},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":550,"granted_pct_with":48.1,"granted_pct_without":77},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":118,"granted_pct_with":73,"granted_pct_without":61.4},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":304,"granted_pct_with":43.9,"granted_pct_without":69.3},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":352,"granted_pct_with":60.8,"granted_pct_without":63.5},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":49,"granted_pct_with":72,"granted_pct_without":62.2},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":774,"granted_pct_with":60.2,"granted_pct_without":69.9},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":82,"granted_pct_with":80.7,"granted_pct_without":60.8},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":129,"granted_pct_with":68.1,"granted_pct_without":61.9}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":62},{"reason":"ischemic heart disease is a presumptive condition for herbicide exposure","decisions":15},{"reason":"veteran served in thailand during vietnam era","decisions":11},{"reason":"ischemic heart disease is a presumptive condition under 38 c.f.r. § 3.309(e)","decisions":10},{"reason":"presumed exposure to herbicide agents","decisions":9},{"reason":"ischemic heart disease is presumptively linked to herbicide exposure","decisions":9}],"denied":[{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":28},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":24},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":22},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":14},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":11},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":8}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26030779","year":2026,"judge":"MARCUS N. FULTON","rationale":"Veteran served in American Samoa during the presumptive period for herbicide exposure.; PACT Act establishes presumption of herbicide exposure in American Samoa.; Veteran has a diagnosis of ischemic heart disease.; Weight of evidence favors the claim."},{"case_id":"26003755","year":2026,"judge":"D. SMART","rationale":"Presumptive service connection for ischemic heart disease met; In-service exposure to herbicide agents conceded; Benefit of the doubt applied"},{"case_id":"A26012865","year":2026,"judge":"A. ISHIZAWAR","rationale":"Current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease.; Presumptive association with herbicide exposure under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e).; Lay statements regarding exposure to barrels at Subic Bay were found credible and corroborated."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26007347","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL LANE","rationale":"Workload capacity estimated at 5-7 METs.; No cardiac dilation, congestive heart failure, or LVEF < 50%.; VA medical opinions found more probative than lay evidence."},{"case_id":"25008711","year":2025,"judge":"M. C. GRAHAM","rationale":"Evidence persuasively against finding of exposure to tactical herbicide agents in service.; No etiological link found between heart conditions and toxic exposures.; Veteran's non-TERA risk factors (hypertension, obesity, smoking, age) outweigh TERA risk factors."},{"case_id":"25001716","year":2025,"judge":"COLLEEN M. GLASER-ALLEN","rationale":"Evidence did not meet criteria for 60% or 100% rating; METs level and ejection fraction did not meet higher rating thresholds; Echocardiogram considered gold standard for IHD evaluation"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}