The veteran's private medical expenses incurred from September 21, 2003, through September 26, 2003, are eligible for reimbursement as the services were rendered in a medical emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.
The deciding factor: The veteran had a service-connected disability (PTSD) that resulted in total disability permanent in nature. The private hospitalization was deemed necessary due to an emergent cardiac condition with severe coronary artery disease, which made transfer to a VA facility impractical given the distance and urgency of care needed.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Coronary Artery Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 25, 2006
- Citation
- 0602120
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as it needs a medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the condition prior to October 16, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another since September 30, 2020.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and right hand strain, increased the ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, dyshidrotic eczema, and hypertension, and denied service connection for Parkinsonism, pes planus/flat feet, GERD, tinea versicolor, allergic rhinitis, and tinnitus. The Board also granted a TDIU.
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