Diagnostic Code 7006 · 38 CFR §§4.104
A myocardial infarction (MI) occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked, causing tissue death. In veterans, heart attacks may result from service-connected coronary artery disease, stress cardiomyopathy, or coronary artery spasm. The VA provides an automatic 100% temporary rating following a heart attack, then rates based on the residual cardiac damage using METs testing and ejection fraction measurements. Even after recovery, heart attack survivors typically have permanent damage to the heart muscle that limits exercise capacity.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | |
| 60% | |
| 30% | |
| 10% |
Hospital records from the myocardial infarction including cardiac enzyme levels, Cardiac catheterization or angiography results, Post-MI echocardiogram showing ejection fraction and wall motion abnormalities, Exercise stress test documenting current METs capacity, Documentation connecting the MI to service-connected CAD or other cause