Ischemic heart disease

The most direct evidence for this condition is an exercise stress test that measures the MET level at which heart failure symptoms appear. Records showing the exact MET threshold — and the symptoms that stopped the test — tie directly to the rating criteria. If exercise testing cannot be done for medical reasons, a medical examiner can estimate your MET level based on specific activities, such as slow stair climbing or shoveling snow, that bring on symptoms.

For the 30% level, an echocardiogram, multigated acquisition scan, or magnetic resonance imaging showing cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation is the type of objective evidence that can satisfy that criterion even without a MET finding.

For the 10% level, pharmacy records or prescriptions showing that you take continuous medication to control the condition are relevant. Cardiology notes, hospital records, and treatment histories that document symptom frequency and severity at various activity levels all help establish where you fall on the MET scale. Statements from you or people who know you describing how physical activity affects your daily life can also support what the medical records show.