Agent Orange exposure can increase a Veteran’s chance of developing harmful health conditions — including everything from diabetes and heart disease to various kinds of cancer.
One specific condition a Veteran may develop after exposure is ischemic heart disease. Understanding ischemic heart disease and the associated VA disability rating is key to ensuring you receive the disability benefits you deserve. Read on for a detailed breakdown of the VA rating for ischemic heart disease due to Agent Orange.
Ischemic heart disease describes a range of heart problems related to narrowed heart arteries. Also called coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease causes less blood and oxygen to reach the heart.
Over time, the condition can cause complications and symptoms, including but not limited to:
In most non-military cases, ischemic heart disease is typically caused by cholesterol plaque buildup in the arteries.
Although ischemic heart disease can be quite severe if left unaddressed, there are many treatment options available. For example, lifestyle changes like eating a healthier diet, increasing exercise, and taking medication are all options for people with ischemic heart disease. In severe cases, surgery may be required.
Agent Orange was a combination of two herbicides used by the US military in Vietnam and in surrounding theaters/military operations. An herbicidal warfare agent, it was also used for industrial agriculture before its health effects were fully understood.
Today, exposure to Agent Orange has been linked to a wide range of severe health conditions in Veterans. In many cases, even short-term exposure to the chemical can lead to the development of cancer, lung issues, and much more.
Because of this, Agent Orange exposure often qualifies many Veterans for VA disability benefits without havinging to prove the connection between military service and the claimed condition. For example, many conditions are classified as “presumptive” due to Agent Orange exposure and are service connected because of the correlation.
Veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange during service should contact a knowledgeable Veterans law attorney for more information.
As of the 2008 Veterans and Agent Orange update report, written by the Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies, Agent Orange has been associated with a higher-than-average chance of developing ischemic heart disease.
In other words, exposure to Agent Orange could cause a Veteran to develop this condition even if they were not previously at risk.
Therefore, all Veterans who served in the following locations during the times specified — and who have developed ischemic heart disease — may be entitled to a service connection for disability benefits.
If you served in any of these locations during these times, you might be eligible for VA disability benefits on a presumptive basis.
However, even if you are not eligible for benefits on a presumptive basis, you may still be entitled to VA disability compensation. You will need to establish a direct link between your ischemic heart disease and your military service.
For example, you may need to demonstrate the association by documenting the work you performed and the location it occurred. You can further support your disability claim by providing the following:
If you served in any of the above locations during the times specified, you do not have to gather additional evidence to establish a connection between your condition and Agent Orange exposure. The VA presumes you have been exposed and the resulting condition is directly related to that exposure. With your medical diagnosis you will automatically qualify for a presumptive service connection.
If you qualify for presumptive service connection, you, your spouse, any dependent children, and/or dependent parents may be eligible for VA survivors’ benefits.
According to the VA’s Schedule of Ratings, ischemic heart disease is rated under Diagnostic Code 7005, the section for cardiovascular system diseases and conditions. Depending on your symptoms, you may be assigned a disability rating between 10% and 100%.
Depending on a Veteran’s condition, s/he may need heart surgery to alleviate or minimize their ischemic heart disease symptoms. After heart surgery, a Veteran may receive a temporary 100% disability rating during recovery.
The below surgeries qualify for a temporary 100% disability rating:
Approximately one year after surgery, a Veteran may be considered “recovered,” and the temporary 100% disability benefit be reduced to the previous rating.
Some Veterans may qualify for a 100% total disability rating for their ischemic heart disease. This disability benefit compensates Veterans as if they had a 100% disability rating level — even if they don’t technically meet the criteria for it.
To qualify, the Veteran must be unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. For example, if a Veteran cannot work because of their ischemic heart disease or associated symptoms, s/he could qualify for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
The following requirements must be met:
If the Veteran does not meet the above criteria, there is still a possibility of obtaining the benefit. In that case, a Veteran must show that their ischemic heart disease prevents them from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. This is easier with a medical nexus letter from a licensed healthcare professional.
If you believe you qualify for TDIU due to your ischemic heart disease, you should contact Veterans law attorneys right away. The right legal team can support you in gathering the right evidence, filing your disability benefits claim, and going through the appeals process if your claim is initially denied.
Even in the best of circumstances, it can be challenging to get the disability benefits you deserve for your ischemic heart disease. If you have experienced negative health symptoms because of Agent Orange exposure, you do not have to file your benefits claim alone.
Instead, contact Berry Law. As experienced Veterans law attorneys, we are ready to assist you in any way possible.
We can help you file a disability benefits claim for your ischemic heart disease, help prove a service-related connection between your condition and Agent Orange exposure, and/or help you show that your ischemic heart disease counts as a presumptive condition.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Sources:
Ischemic Heart Disease — Cardiovascular Disability | National Library of Medicine
Veterans’ Diseases Associated With Agent Orange | VA.gov
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