The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on December 29, 2003 due to influenza because the condition was not deemed an emergency and VA facilities were available.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence showed that the veteran's influenza presentation at Cleveland Clinic did not require immediate medical attention as it was non-emergent with a three-day duration.
- Claimed conditions
- Influenza
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 3, 2008
- Citation
- 0807171
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 0807171.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to or cause his death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a clarifying medical opinion regarding whether Parkinson's disease contributed to the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran received emergency medical treatment for influenza and fever at Cox Health South on March 14, 2016. The treatment was granted as the nearest available appropriate level of care was a non-VA medical center due to his condition being severe and the VA facility not being feasibly available.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection based on his claimed conditions.
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.