Coronary Artery Disease & Obesity in Veterans Disability

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses Coronary Artery Disease and weight gain as an intermediate step. Leah explores the connection between coronary artery disease (CAD) and VA disability, with a focus on obesity as an intermediate factor. She clarifies that while not specialized in internal medicine or cardiology, she has relevant experience in treating CAD. CAD, characterized by plaque buildup in heart arteries, can be a result of both modifiable (e.g., smoking, sedentary lifestyle) and non-modifiable (e.g., age, gender) risk factors. Leah discusses how conditions like hypertension, sleep apnea, PTSD, depression, and especially obesity can be linked to CAD. She emphasizes the role of obesity, caused by factors like mental health conditions or physical disabilities, in increasing CAD risk. When evaluating VA disability claims, she considers the totality of the evidence, including various risk factors and their relation to military service. If you would like more information on our services including Independent Medical Opinion Letters often referred to as nexus letters and records review, please check us out here: https://www.prestigeveteranmctx.com/ #veterans #va #medical