Peripheral Artery Disease VA Rating

If you’re a veteran who believes your peripheral artery disease is connected to your military service, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits. Veterans with service-connected peripheral artery disease may qualify to receive monthly tax-free payments of up to $3,938.58. 

In this article, we will explain how peripheral artery disease can be tied to service, the peripheral artery disease VA disability rating, and what veterans can do if the condition prevents them from working.

What is peripheral artery disease?

Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) happens when plaque buildup in the arteries causes them to narrow, reducing blood flow to the limbs. Although PAD can sometimes affect the hands and arms, it most often occurs in the legs and feet.

Symptoms of PAD include: 

• Leg pain while walking
• Muscle pain and cramping
• Numbness or weakness in the legs or arms

Black people and people 75 years or older are at a higher risk of developing PAD. Additionally, lifestyle factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, and eating a diet high in saturated fat can put you at a higher risk of developing the condition. Having diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or high blood pressure or cholesterol also increase your chances of developing peripheral artery disease.

Peripheral artery disease VA disability rating

Peripheral artery disease is rated using diagnostic code 7114 in the Schedule of Ratings for diseases of the heart as follows:

Description	VA Rating	Monthly payment (vet only)
At least one of the following: Ankle/brachial index less than or equal to 0.39; ankle pressure less than 50 mm Hg; toe pressure less than 30 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension less than 30 mm Hg	100%	$3,938.58
At least one of the following: Ankle/brachial index of 0.40-0.53; ankle pressure of 50-65 mm Hg; toe pressure of 30-39 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension of 30-39 mm Hg	60%	$1,434.02
At least one of the following: Ankle/brachial index of 0.54-0.66; ankle pressure of 66-83 mm Hg; toe pressure of 40-49 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension of 40-49 mm Hg	40%	$795.84
At least one of the following: Ankle/brachial index of 0.67-0.79; ankle pressure of 84-99 mm Hg; toe pressure of 50-59 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension of 50-59 mm Hg	20%	$356.66

The VA will perform an ankle-brachial index test to determine the severity of your condition and assign an appropriate rating. 

Ankle-brachial index tests measure blood pressure in your ankles and arms. If the pressure in your ankles is lower than the pressure in your arms, it means your blood isn’t flowing well to your legs and you likely have PAD.

Service connecting PAD

Veterans can receive a secondary disability rating for any health condition that is medically related to another condition that’s service connected.

As mentioned above, certain preexisting conditions can increase your chances of developing peripheral artery disease. If you have a VA rating for diabetes, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, or high blood pressure, you may be eligible for a peripheral artery disease VA disability rating on a secondary basis.

Whether you’re filing a direct or secondary service connection claim for PAD, you will need to provide medical evidence. Examples of evidence include a medical nexus from a health care professional demonstrating the link between your peripheral artery disease and your existing service-connected condition, and records from your time in service or your current doctor. It can also help to provide lay statements from friends, family, or former coworkers with additional context. 

Peripheral artery disease and Agent Orange

The VA does not currently recognize peripheral artery disease as being caused by Agent Orange exposure. However, both type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD), sometimes called coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease, are presumptively service connected to Agent Orange.

Because these conditions are risk factors of PAD, if you have already established a presumptive service connection for diabetes or CAD, you may be eligible for a secondary peripheral artery disease VA rating if you are able to prove your Agent Orange-related diabetes or CAD led to your PAD diagnosis.

TDIU for peripheral artery disease

In some cases, a veteran may be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). TDIU is also known as individual unemployability or simply IU. Veterans are eligible for these benefits if they can’t hold down “substantially gainful” employment due to their service-connected conditions.

Veterans with peripheral artery disease may struggle to work because of frequent muscle pain, cramping, and trouble walking. If their PAD is tied to a related condition like diabetes or kidney disease, this may make showing up consistently to work and performing duties of a job even more difficult.

Veterans who receive TDIU benefits are compensated at the same level as those with a 100% disability rating, even though their combined rating is below 100%. 

Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:

• At least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
• Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more.

How Woods & Woods can help

Woods & Woods has been fighting for people with injuries and disabilities since 1985. Our team of accredited VA disability lawyers, case managers, legal analysts, and intake specialists know the ins and outs of the VA so you don’t have to do all the hard work. Call us today for your free and confidential case evaluation.

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