Veterans who have heart conditions that require stents may receive disability compensation. Heart stents are tiny mesh tubes physicians place in arteries, the organic corridors through which blood moves.
The VA rates most heart conditions using a rating schedule called the Cardiovascular System. The ratings are based on a Veteran’s symptoms during different exertion levels, known as MET testing.
What is a VA Disability Rating?
Your VA disability rating for heart stent placement determines compensation payments based on the severity of your service-connected conditions. It’s crucial to understand how it works to maximize your benefits.
When you have multiple disabilities, the VA combines them using a process known as a “combined rating.” This process was done manually in the past, but now it is done by entering parameters from your Disability Benefits Questionnaires into a computer program. The program then determines the final result. For instance, if you have two knee injuries, they may be combined to receive a single rating of 50%. The VA rounds this rating to the nearest 10%, resulting in a final combined rating of 50% being rated as 60%.
Remember that your overall or combined rating could change if the VA determines your condition has worsened. For instance, a veteran with active cancer who is presumptively service-connected for cancer might receive a 100% schedular rating during treatment. However, after their last C&P examination, they might receive a reduced rating.
What are the Criteria for a VA Disability Rating?
Many heart conditions and a variety of surgeries related to heart problems can qualify you for a disability rating. For example, suppose you have a myocardial infarction (a heart attack), coronary artery disease, or valvular disease and have symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or fainting. You can’t work at your average rate of exertion. In that case, you may be eligible for a 40% rating.
You can get a 100% rating for certain heart surgeries, such as a pacemaker installation or coronary bypass surgery. However, to receive a 100 percent rating, you need to show that your condition has escalated to the point where it prevents even minimal levels of physical activity, such as showering, walking one block, or getting dressed.
VA also assigns a 60 percent rating when you experience debilitating symptoms during lower levels of exercise, such as fast walking or light yard work, such as weeding and mowing with a push mower.
What are the Benefits of a VA Disability Rating?
A VA disability rating can help a veteran qualify for compensation, which can be used to pay for treatment or other expenses. This benefit can also help veterans maintain their quality of life as their heart condition worsens.
To receive a higher VA disability rating for your heart conditions, you must provide evidence supporting your claim. It could include a private medical opinion or a statement from your treating physician.
In determining your disability ratings, VA doctors use the Schedule for Rating Disabilities to evaluate specific heart diseases and disorders. For example, you may be entitled to a 10% rating if your ejection fraction is less than 50% or you take continuous medication for heart disease.
You may also be able to obtain a 60% rating if you have episodes of congestive heart failure or a METS level of 4.1 to 7.1. VA also assigns a permanent 100% disability rating for veterans who have suffered a heart attack, pacemaker operation, or other significant events such as a heart valve replacement or transplant.
How Can a VA Disability Rating Help Me?
A VA disability rating can help you claim maximum compensation and additional benefits. These include healthcare, rehabilitation programs, and monetary benefits such as tax-free monthly payments.
When you receive a 100% schedular disability rating, it means that one of your physical or psychological conditions meets the criteria for total disability due to individual unemployability. You can also be rated 100% by having multiple disabilities combined through the Combined Ratings table.
When combining ratings for multiple disabilities, the VA considers your symptoms and their severity and the Combined Rating Table criteria. However, you should note that disability ratings are not added together like math. Instead, the VA looks for conditions producing similar symptoms and levels of impairment to determine your combined rating. It can make calculating your overall rating more complex. It also highlights the importance of solid medical evidence in your claims.