Diagnostic Code 7005: Coronary Artery Disease / Ischemic Heart Disease Rating Criteria
- CFR section
- 38 CFR § 4.104
- Rating range
- 10% to 100%
- Rating levels
- 4
- Body system
- Cardiovascular system
The VA rates Coronary Artery Disease / Ischemic Heart Disease under diagnostic code 7005 in 38 CFR § 4.104. The table below is the full set of rating criteria, from the schedule itself, with the evidence factors raters look for at each level.
DC 7005 rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Workload of 7.1-10.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or continuous medication required for control What raters look forheart failure symptoms at 7.1-10.0 METs; continuous medication required for control |
| 30% | Workload of 5.1-7.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by echocardiogram or equivalent (e.g., multigated acquisition scan or magnetic resonance imaging) What raters look forheart failure symptoms at 5.1-7.0 METs; cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by echocardiogram or equivalent |
| 60% | Workload of 3.1-5.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms What raters look forheart failure symptoms at 3.1-5.0 METs |
| 100% | Workload of 3.0 METs or less results in heart failure symptoms What raters look forheart failure symptoms at 3.0 METs or less |
DC 7005 rating appeals at the Board
The Board of Veterans' Appeals issued 2,078 rulings on higher ratings, reductions and severance under diagnostic code 7005 from 2021 to 2026. It granted 31.2%, denied 60.1% and sent 8.8% back for more work. One appeal can contain more than one ruling.
By the rating the Board's order named
Only orders that state a rating percentage with a date are counted. An order denying a rating "in excess of 50 percent" names the existing rating; a grant may name the rating awarded. These are not all ratings veterans requested.
| Rating the order named | Decided rulings | Granted |
|---|---|---|
| 10 percent | 145 | 6.2% |
| 30 percent | 284 | 20.8% |
| 60 percent | 342 | 42.1% |
| 100 percent | 125 | 91.2% |
Recorded exam issues in remanded DC 7005 rulings
Percentages use all 182 rating rulings under this code the Board remanded, 2021 to 2026. Some rulings have no recorded exam classification, and small categories are not shown, so these rows need not total 100 percent.
- The VA exam or opinion was not adequate63.2%
- The exam was out of date or the condition had worsened18.1%
- No exam problem recorded13.2%
Method: Claim Raven read each ruling in every Board decision stored for 2021 to 2026 and counted it under this code when the decision named DC 7005 for a rating question. These results cover only rulings with an identified diagnostic code and may not represent rulings where no code was stated. Granted includes partial grants; dismissed and withdrawn rulings are left out. These are outcomes within appeals, not first decisions, and not your personal odds.
Condition guide
The rating criteria are only part of the picture for Heart Disease. The Heart Disease condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.
What happens to Heart Disease appeals at the Board
Claim Raven's analysis of 21,427 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on Heart Disease, 2021 to 2026. The Heart Disease condition page has the full breakdown, including which evidence types are associated with better outcomes.
Method: each ruling's outcome is read from the order in the Board's published decision and rolled up as granted (including partial grants), denied, or remanded, leaving out dismissals and withdrawals. The data codes the condition the Board ruled on, not the diagnostic code, so these numbers describe Heart Disease appeals generally rather than DC 7005 specifically. The DC 7005 section above counts this code's own rating appeals. Board outcomes describe appealed claims, not initial decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is VA diagnostic code 7005?
Diagnostic code 7005 is the VA rating schedule entry for Coronary Artery Disease / Ischemic Heart Disease, found in 38 CFR § 4.104. The VA assigns this code when it rates the condition and applies the criteria listed on this page.
What ratings are possible under DC 7005?
DC 7005 provides ratings of 10%, 30%, 60%, 100%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.
What does the highest rating under DC 7005 require?
The 100% rating for Coronary Artery Disease requires: Workload of 3.0 METs or less results in heart failure symptoms.
How often does the Board grant a higher rating under DC 7005?
In 2,031 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on a higher rating under DC 7005 from 2021 to 2026, 30.0% were granted, 61.1% denied and 8.9% sent back for more work. These are appeal outcomes, not your personal odds.
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