Sick sinus syndrome is a group of heart rhythm disorders affecting the heart’s natural pacemaker, the sinus node. It can manifest as:
- Bradycardia (abnormally slow heart rate)
- Tachycardia (short periods of very fast heart rate)
- Tachy-brady syndrome (alternating fast and slow heart rates)
Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, fainting spells, shortness of breath, and chest pain, significantly impacting a veteran’s quality of life and ability to work.
If the sick sinus syndrome developed as a result of another service-connected condition (e.g., ischemic heart disease), veterans might be eligible for benefits under secondary service connection.
How Does VA Rate Sick Sinus Syndrome?
VA doesn’t have a specific disability rating for sick sinus syndrome. Instead, it evaluates it under the broader category of heart arrhythmias or based on its symptoms and effects on overall cardiovascular health.
Under Diagnostic Code 7010, ratings for supraventricular arrhythmias are as follows:
10%: Permanent atrial fibrillation (lone atrial fibrillation), or 1-4 episodes per year of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or other supraventricular tachycardia documented by ECG or Holter monitor.
30%: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or other supraventricular tachycardia, with more than 4 episodes per year documented by ECG or Holter monitor; or, confirmed by ECG with either continuous use of oral medications to control or use of vagal maneuvers to control.
However, if sick sinus syndrome leads to more severe cardiovascular complications, it may be rated under other diagnostic codes, potentially resulting in higher ratings.
Master the VA Disability Claims Process
Pacemakers
Many veterans with sick sinus syndrome require pacemaker implantation, which VA considers in the disability rating process:
A 100% rating is assigned for two months following hospital admission for pacemaker implantation. After two months, the condition is evaluated based on residuals, with a minimum 10% rating.
Unhappy with Your Rating?
If you disagree with VA’s initial rating decision (or you’ve been denied), you have the right to appeal. Contact us for a free evaluation of your case.
Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
If sick sinus syndrome severely impacts your ability to keep a job, you may be eligible for TDIU, which provides compensation at the 100% rate even if your combined disability rating is less than 100%. Get our free TDIU guide.
How to Apply for Benefits
To apply for VA disability benefits for sick sinus syndrome:
- Gather comprehensive medical evidence:
- Diagnosis and treatment records
- ECG and Holter monitor results
- Pacemaker implantation records (if applicable)
- Ejection fraction measurements
- Medication lists
- Get a medical opinion linking your condition to military service
- Document the impact on daily life and work capacity
- Include a personal statement detailing how the condition affects your life
- Submit a claim through the VA’s disability compensation program (VA Form 21-526EZ)
Successful claims and appeals require strong medical evidence and clear documentation of how your condition impacts your daily life and ability to work.
Example: How a Veteran Won His Sick Sinus Syndrome VA Claim
This case involves a veteran who served on active duty from 1964 to 1967 and was granted service connection for sick sinus syndrome. The veteran reported first experiencing an irregular heartbeat during active service in the 1960s, with intermittent symptoms continuing after service. Unfortunately, the veteran’s service treatment records were lost or destroyed, which required the Board to carefully consider all available evidence.
In 1991, the veteran was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome after a syncopal episode and subsequently had a pacemaker implanted. At a private cardiology consultation in 1992, the cardiologist noted a history of irregular heartbeat and made a diagnosis of probable sick sinus syndrome with tachy/brady syndrome and dual chamber pacemaker.
A 2010 VA examination provided further support for the claim. The examining physician, after reviewing the claims file and examining the veteran, opined that it was more likely than not that the first manifestations of sick sinus syndrome developed during active service. The examiner based this opinion on the veteran’s reported history, which was consistent with the known progression of the disease.
Given the credible lay evidence, medical history, and supportive medical opinion – along with the absence of any significant evidence against the claim – the Board granted service connection for heart disability, diagnosed as sick sinus syndrome.
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Content Reviewed by
Attorney Matthew Hill
Attorney Matthew Hill, licensed in Florida and Washington D.C., a dedicated advocate for disabled veterans with over two decades of experience, reviewed the information in this post.
