The Board denied the veteran's claim for authorization of ongoing non-VA (fee basis) treatment, finding that massage therapy or reflexology is not reasonable and necessary medical treatment.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that massage therapy or reflexology was a legitimate medical treatment modality or theory recognized by VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- frostbite injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, forearm muscle injury, traumatic arthritis, paralysis of the sciatic nerve, eye disorder, facial scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- July 1, 2004
- Citation
- 0417803
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 0417803.
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 appeals for service connection were dismissed due to untimely filing of the Board Appeal requests.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and remanded the claims for tinnitus, facial scars, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, GERD, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, headaches, and a psychiatric disorder. The evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the skin disability was also denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for headaches, a bilateral wrist disability, a bilateral hip disability, facial scars, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle sprain.
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