Rating Schedule for the Heart
For your heart diseases, attacks, implanted machines, and irregular heartbeats.
GENERAL PYRAMIDING NOTES:
The Veteran can only receive ONE evaluation for conditions that fall under the basically rated heart condition schedule!
The Veteran can only receive ONE evaluation for conditions that involves irregular heartbeats.
Examples: Arrhythmia, atrioventricular block, or tachycardia.
In the event heart or irregular heartbeat conditions overlap in terms of symptoms or rating criteria then only ONE evaluation can be awarded!
Pulmonary heart disease (cor pulmonale) is NOT given a separate evaluation! It is only rated under the Respiratory condition that caused it.
QUASI PRESUMPTIVE SERVICE-CONNECTION:
Ischemic heart disease or other cardiovascular diseases, including Hypertension developing in a Veteran who has a service-connected Amputation of one leg at or above the knee OR service connected amputations of both legs at or above the ankles are entitled to presumptive service-connection for those conditions.
Basically Rated Heart Conditions
The following conditions are all rated identically. As such, if you do have more than one of the following conditions you may only receive a single rating.
For the Veteran to get an accurate rating it is CRITICAL that the physician completing the DBQ or the C&P exam conducts a metabolic equivalent of task (MET) test.
7005 Arteriosclerotic heart disease (Atherosclerotic heart disease, Coronary artery disease, Ischemic heart disease);
7015 Atrioventricular block (Benign (First-Degree and Second-Degree, Type I));
If Non-Benign (Second-Degree, Type II and Third-Degree) consider evaluation under Cardiac pacemaker (if appropriate).
7020 Cardiomyopathy;
7001 Endocarditis;
7007 Hypertensive heart disease;
7003 Pericardial adhesions;
7000 Rheumatic heart disease (Valvular heart disease);
7004 Syphilitic heart disease.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% | Workload of 7.1-10.0 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope; OR continuous medication required. |
| 30% | Workload of 5.1-7.0 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope; OR evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed on electro-cardiogram, echocardiogram, or X-ray. |
| 60% | Workload of 3.1-5.0 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope. |
| 100% | Workload of 3.0 METs or less resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope. |
Basically Rated Heart Conditions (Temp 100%)
The following are rated the same as the previous conditions. However they have criteria for temporary 100% ratings; after which time the Veteran will be rated based on residuals.
7017 Coronary bypass surgery;
For 3 months following hospital admission.
7006 Heart attack (Myocardial infarction);
During and for 3 months after release.
7019 Heart transplant;
1 year after the transplant.
Minimum evaluation of 30%.
7016 Heart valve replacement;
For 6 months following the end of treatment OR hospitalization for the condition.
7002 Pericarditis;
During active infection with cardiac involvement and for 3 months following the end of therapy for the active infection.
Irregular Heart Beats
When the band conductor is drunk.
7011 Ventricular Arrhythmias (Sustained)
100% during hospitalization for the condition. Rating will continue for 6 months following release from the hospital, after which the Veteran will be rated on residuals, under the Basic schedule.
Automatic Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (AICD) Implanted
This is NOT a pacemaker!
100% while it remains implanted.
7018 Cardiac Pacemakers
When your heart requires a robotic conductor.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
This is NOT a permanent individual rating! Once the temp 100% ends, so too goes this condition. With the minimum rating then being applied to the Veteran's irregular heart beat condition that required the pacemaker.
Pacemakers are NOT be confused with a implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (AICD's).
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% | Minimum rating. |
| 100% | For 1 month following hospital admission for implantation or reimplantation. |
7009 Bradycardia (Bradyarrhythmia)
When the heart beats lower than 60 beats per minute. There are five general classes of bradyarrhythmia: Sinus bradycardia, including sinoatrial block; atrioventricular (AV) junctional (nodal) escape rhythm; AV heart block (second or third degree) or AV dissociation; atrial fibrillation or flutter with a slow ventricular response; and, idioventricular escape rhythm.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
In order to receive a rating the Veteran MUST have symptoms! Asymptomatic bradycardia is considered a lab finding and is NOT a disability for VA purposes!
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| ?% | Rated based on the Basic schedule. |
| 100% | For 1 month following hospital admission for implantation or reimplantation of a pacemaker. |
7010 Supraventricular Tachycardia
Abnormally quick heartbeat.
Examples of supraventricular tachycardia include, but are not limited to: Atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, sinus tachycardia, sinoatrial nodal reentrant tachycardia, atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia, atrial tachycardia, junctional tachycardia, and multifocal atrial tachycardia.
NOTE:
Treatment interventions occurs whenever you require:
Ablation;
Cardioversion; and/or
Intravenous pharmacologic adjustment for symptom relief.
| Rating |
Description |
|---|---|
| 10% | Confirmed by ECG, with 1 to 4 treatment interventions per year; OR, confirmed by ECG with either continuous use of oral medications to control or use of vagal maneuvers to control. |
| 30% | Confirmed by ECG, with 5 or more treatment interventions per year. |
7008 Hyperthyroid Heart Disease
While named in the schedule it is actually rated Analogously to whatever heart condition the Veteran's symptoms most closely resembles.
Miscellaneous Rating
Having Trouble Finding Your Condition?
Click HERE to view the Master Condition List.