VA Disability Rating for Ischemic Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease)
Rated 10/30/60/100% by METs workload and ejection fraction. Agent Orange presumptive.
Ischemic heart disease (DC 7005) covers coronary artery disease, prior MI, angina, and similar. Rating is driven by METs (metabolic equivalents workload) on stress testing and left-ventricular ejection fraction. On the Agent Orange presumptive list.
Presumptive framework applies
Agent Orange presumptive (38 USC § 1116 / 38 CFR § 3.309(e)) for qualifying Vietnam-era service — includes Vietnam in-country, territorial waters, Thai bases, Korean DMZ 1967–1971, and expanded locations.
Check my presumptive eligibility →Rating tiers + 2026 monthly compensation
| Rating | Monthly (2026, single vet) | Criteria (summary) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | METs >7 but ≤10 with symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope. OR continuous medication required. |
| 30% | $552.47 | METs >5 but ≤7, OR evidence of cardiac hypertrophy/dilatation. |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | METs >3 but ≤5, OR LVEF 30-50%, OR more than one episode of acute CHF in the past year. |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | Chronic CHF, OR METs ≤3, OR LVEF <30%. |
Dollar amounts reflect the 2.5% COLA effective 2025-12-01 for single veterans with no dependents. Add spouse + children for 30%+ ratings via the estimator.
What this means in dollars
- →At 10%: $180.42/mo · $2,165/year, tax-free
- →At 30%: $552.47/mo · $6,630/year, tax-free
- →At 60%: $1,435.02/mo · $17,220/year, tax-free
- →At 100%: $3,938.58/mo · $47,263/year, tax-free
How to get rated for ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease)
- Stress test with METs measurement (gold standard).
- Echocardiogram for LVEF.
- Vietnam-era AO vets: file under presumption.
- Document medication regimen — continuous heart meds alone trigger 10%.
Common secondary conditions
- +Hypertension
- +Chronic kidney disease
- +Depression / anxiety
File these separately. VA rates each service-connected condition independently and combines them via § 4.25.
Nexus tips
- AO presumption covers ischemic heart disease specifically. Other heart conditions (valvular, arrhythmia) need direct nexus.
- Prior MI is ratable even if fully recovered — the underlying CAD is still service-connectable.
Frequently asked
I had a heart attack 20 years after Vietnam. Is it still presumptive?
Yes. Agent Orange presumptions have no temporal limit — ischemic heart disease manifesting any time after exposure qualifies for presumptive service connection.
Ready to act on this?
Get a full rating estimate across your conditions, or draft the nexus letter your doctor needs to sign.
Related conditions
This page summarizes public rating criteria from 38 CFR Part 4. It is not legal or medical advice. Actual VA ratings depend on C&P exam findings, records review, and rater discretion.