The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Halifax Medical Center on April 4, 2005 due to lack of pre-authorization and because VA facilities were feasibly available.
The deciding factor: VA facilities were not considered feasible given that the surgical procedure was non-emergent and alternative treatment options were available within a reasonable time frame.
- Claimed conditions
- Cholecystitis, Gallstones
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 25, 2008
- Citation
- 0802873
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0802873.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for a separate grant of service connection for GERD, as a residual of her cholecystectomy, is granted effective May 19, 2024. The claims for increased ratings for cholecystectomy residuals and esophageal spasms are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic insufficiency and gastroesophageal reflux disease, including gallbladder issues, has been granted a 100% rating effective November 19, 2024.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hematemesis, hyperekplexia (hyperlexia), bleeding esophagus, erectile dysfunction, gallstones, hepatomegaly and hepatic steatosis, pancreatitis, and sleep apnea due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's mental health issues are related to service, but the claims for these conditions will be remanded for a new VA examination.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's upper gastrointestinal disorder, diagnosed as hypertensive gastropathy, is granted secondary to residuals of service-connected infectious hepatitis (B). The issues of gallstones and hepatitis C are remanded for further development.
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