The Board denied the veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Lincoln General Hospital from October 30, 1997 to November 3, 1997 due to lack of eligibility under existing laws.
The deciding factor: The care provided was not rendered in a medical emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available. The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not require the need for such care.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, intra-abdominal adhesions and intestinal obstruction with resection of the sigmoid colon, fracture of the proximal phalanx of the left index finger with traumatic arthritis, scars, residuals of shell fragment wounds to the left thigh, left forearm, right middle and lower fingers, and the right side of abdomen and left iliac with injury to Muscle Group XIX
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2002
- Citation
- 0216198
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0216198.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.