EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Ischemic Heart Disease (Agent Orange Presumptive)
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.104 (Cardiovascular system) · reviewed 2026-05-27 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Ischemic Heart Disease (Agent Orange Presumptive) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 7005 of 38 CFR § 4.104, DC 7005 across 4 severity tiers (100% / 60% / 30% / 10%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Heart disease caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. Presumptive condition for veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Includes coronary artery disease, angina, and myocardial infarction. One of the most commonly claimed Agent Orange conditions.
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
100%
Per § 4.104 General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Heart: workload of 3.0 METs or less results in heart failure symptoms (breathlessness, fatigue, angina, dizziness, arrhythmia, palpitations, or syncope). OR left ventricular dysfunction with ejection fraction less than 30 percent. OR chronic congestive heart failure.
60%
Workload of 3.1-5.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms. OR left ventricular dysfunction with ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent. OR more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year.
30%
Workload of 5.1-7.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms. OR evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by echocardiogram, multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging.
10%
Workload of 7.1-10.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms. OR continuous medication required (e.g., antianginal, antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic).
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.104 (Cardiovascular system). Source verified 2026-05-27 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026