Necrosis of the myocardium, as a result of interruption of the blood supply to the area. It is characterized by a severe and rapid onset of symptoms that may include chest pain, often radiating to the left arm and left side of the neck, dyspnea, sweating, and palpitations.
For the initial 100% rating during and for three months after the heart attack, laboratory test results confirming the myocardial infarction — such as cardiac enzyme or troponin levels and electrocardiogram findings — are the core evidence.
After that period, the key evidence is how your heart performs under physical stress. An exercise stress test that documents the MET level at which you develop breathlessness, fatigue, angina, dizziness, arrhythmia, palpitations, or syncope directly supports a specific rating level. If exercise testing cannot be safely performed, a medical examiner's written estimate of your MET tolerance, tied to concrete examples of daily activities, can substitute. For the 30% level, an echocardiogram, multigated acquisition scan, or magnetic resonance imaging showing cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation also meets the criteria on its own.
For the 10% level, records showing that you require continuous medication to control the condition are relevant. Statements from you or people who know you describing how symptoms affect your work, household tasks, and daily activities can help a medical examiner connect your functional limits to a MET level.
Conditions that are often caused or made worse by this one. If you have any of these, they may be claimable as secondary service connection.
