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Ischemic heart disease develops when the coronary arteries narrow or become blocked, cutting off the blood and oxygen supply the heart muscle needs to function properly. The VA also refers to it as coronary artery disease, the more familiar term for what most people think of as hardening of the arteries. This condition is one of the more broadly defined presumptive diagnoses on the VA's Agent Orange list, and Asbestos Ships helps veterans figure out whether their specific heart condition falls within it.
What counts as ischemic heart disease
The VA's definition is wider than a single diagnosis, which matters because it determines what actually qualifies for the presumption. The conditions below all fall under this regulatory definition.
- Acute, subacute, and old myocardial infarction
- Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease
- Coronary artery spasm and coronary bypass surgery
- Stable angina, unstable angina, and Prinzmetal's angina
Hypertension and peripheral vascular conditions like stroke fall outside this definition entirely, so a veteran with one of those diagnoses alone wouldn't qualify under this particular presumption.
Ischemic heart disease and Agent Orange
Federal regulation places ischemic heart disease directly on the VA's presumptive list, with the rule taking effect back in October 2010. A veteran who meets the required service and exposure criteria doesn't need a separate medical opinion connecting Agent Orange to the heart condition.
The National Academies has reviewed cardiovascular outcomes across multiple editions of its Agent Orange reports, most recently in 2018, and has consistently found evidence supporting this association. That research, combined with the VA's established regulation, has kept ischemic heart disease firmly in place as a recognized presumptive condition for more than a decade.
What the research has examined
An occupational study following more than 5,000 chemical workers exposed to TCDD found a statistically significant upward trend in heart disease mortality as exposure levels increased. That research involved industrial workers rather than veterans directly, but it added to the broader body of evidence the National Academies weighed when forming its conclusions.
More recent research has turned to veterans specifically. A 2026 study of veterans who underwent a coronary procedure compared major adverse cardiac events between those classified as Agent Orange exposed and those who weren't, adding a veteran-specific data point to a growing body of evidence that continues to support the connection.
Where a veteran's service can trigger the presumption
Location and timing decide whether the VA presumes a veteran was exposed to Agent Orange, and Navy veterans have their own recognized entry point through offshore service.
- Time spent in Vietnam, or aboard a vessel along its inland waterways, between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975
- Naval service within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnam-Cambodia coastal demarcation line
- Service at qualifying locations in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam, American Samoa, Johnston Atoll, or near the Korean DMZ
Once one of these service histories is documented alongside a diagnosis that fits the VA's IHD definition, the presumption generally applies.
How the VA rates ischemic heart disease
Unlike the cancer-based conditions covered elsewhere on this site, IHD is rated under Diagnostic Code 7005 using a formula tied to physical exertion capacity, measured in METs, rather than active treatment status. Lower MET tolerance before symptoms appear generally means a higher rating.
- 10 percent: symptoms appear at 7.1 to 10.0 METs, or continuous medication is required
- 30 percent: symptoms appear at 5.1 to 7.0 METs, or cardiac enlargement is confirmed on imaging
- 60 percent: symptoms appear at 3.1 to 5.0 METs
- 100 percent: symptoms appear at 3.0 METs or less
A heart attack or bypass surgery automatically receives a 100 percent rating for three months afterward, regardless of MET results, before shifting to the standard formula above.
What compensation and survivor support look like
Ischemic heart disease payments follow the same 2026 rate schedule as other presumptive conditions, topping out at $3,938.58 monthly for a veteran with no dependents at the 100 percent rating, or $4,158.17 with a spouse and no other dependents. None of this compensation is taxed, no matter which MET level or symptom threshold determines the rating.
Beyond a veteran's own claim, surviving family members have their own path when Agent Orange-related IHD leads to a death. A DIC claim can provide the surviving spouse a base rate of $1,699.36 per month, entirely separate from anything the veteran received while alive.
Get in touch with us about your ischemic heart disease claim
Cardiac diagnoses can get complicated fast, and not every heart condition automatically counts as ischemic heart disease under the VA's specific definition. That's where having someone double-check the details matters.
- Referrals to VA-accredited representatives who handle these claims without upfront fees
- Straightforward answers on whether a cardiac diagnosis fits the IHD presumption
- Assistance finding your nearest VA regional office or medical center
- Referrals to legal resources for compensation options beyond the VA system
Sorting out whether a specific cardiac diagnosis matches the VA's IHD definition can be more complicated than it first appears, especially with how many conditions the regulation covers. Our team at Asbestos Ships can walk through your diagnosis and service record together.
Reach out to Asbestos Ships today to find out what your case may qualify for.