{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/myocardial-infarction","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:09.498Z","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":"Myocardial infarction","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":960,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":21.8,"denied_pct":26.7,"remanded_pct":49.6,"granted_on_merits_pct":44.9,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":62,"granted_pct":19.4,"denied_pct":33.9,"remanded_pct":41.9},{"year":2018,"issues":102,"granted_pct":8.8,"denied_pct":35.3,"remanded_pct":51},{"year":2019,"issues":119,"granted_pct":18.5,"denied_pct":21.8,"remanded_pct":57.1},{"year":2020,"issues":120,"granted_pct":15.8,"denied_pct":27.5,"remanded_pct":53.3},{"year":2021,"issues":119,"granted_pct":26.1,"denied_pct":30.3,"remanded_pct":40.3},{"year":2022,"issues":93,"granted_pct":18.3,"denied_pct":19.4,"remanded_pct":62.4},{"year":2023,"issues":108,"granted_pct":28.7,"denied_pct":19.4,"remanded_pct":50},{"year":2024,"issues":94,"granted_pct":23.4,"denied_pct":27.7,"remanded_pct":43.6},{"year":2025,"issues":114,"granted_pct":28.9,"denied_pct":24.6,"remanded_pct":44.7},{"year":2026,"issues":51,"granted_pct":31.4,"denied_pct":27.5,"remanded_pct":35.3}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":67,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":124,"granted_pct_with":61.7,"granted_pct_without":41.4},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":619,"granted_pct_with":38.2,"granted_pct_without":63.2},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":155,"granted_pct_with":70.1,"granted_pct_without":37.4},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":418,"granted_pct_with":35.5,"granted_pct_without":53.5},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":319,"granted_pct_with":60,"granted_pct_without":34.5},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":47,"granted_pct_with":63.6,"granted_pct_without":43.5},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":683,"granted_pct_with":38.9,"granted_pct_without":64.5},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":58,"granted_pct_with":61.8,"granted_pct_without":43.6}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":14},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":8},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":6},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":4},{"reason":"reduction from 60% to 10 percent was improper","decisions":3},{"reason":"criteria for entitlement met","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":26},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":18},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":18},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":17},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":13},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":7}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040660","year":2026,"judge":"THOMAS L. ENGLISH","rationale":"Veteran served in Korea near DMZ during presumptive herbicide exposure period.; Lay testimony regarding duties and location corroborated by service records.; Benefit of the doubt applied to grant presumptive service connection."},{"case_id":"A26037433","year":2026,"judge":"REBECCA N. POULSON","rationale":"Evidence supports 100% rating criteria for heart disability; August 2022 VA exam indicated 1-3 METs workload with symptoms; Consistent with prior reports of angina and shortness of breath"},{"case_id":"A26037867","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL LANE","rationale":"Conflicting medical opinions regarding service connection.; VA examiner found less likely than not secondary to environmental exposures.; Private opinions and lay statements linked condition to in-service exposures.; Board afforded veteran benefit of the doubt."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26039843","year":2026,"judge":"A. C. MACKENZIE","rationale":"Service treatment records negative for heart condition; VA and private treatment records negative for heart condition within 12 months of separation; August 2024 and March 2025 VA medical opinions found condition less likely than not caused by TERA; Examiners cited smoking, hypertension, and diabete… [truncated, 102 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26033259","year":2026,"judge":"G. A. WASIK","rationale":"No heart symptoms noted in service treatment records.; Separation examination showed normal heart.; VA examiner provided negative nexus opinion.; No competent opinion relates current disorder to service."},{"case_id":"A26032185","year":2026,"judge":"T. RAYMOND","rationale":"No in-service complaints, diagnosis, or treatment for heart disability in service treatment records.; Diagnosis of coronary artery disease in January 2000 with significant risk factors (smoking, marijuana use, family history).; VA examination concluded less likely than not incurred due to service, c… [truncated, 196 chars omitted]"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}