The veteran's claim for reimbursement of private medical expenses incurred in February 2004 was denied because the treatment was not authorized by VA and did not meet the criteria for emergency care.
The deciding factor: The treatment rendered on February 4, 2004 at Southwest Florida Medical Center was not for any service-connected disability or a condition that would have been hazardous to life or health if delayed. The veteran's treatment was for acute gastritis and did not meet the statutory requirements for reimbursement under 38 C.F.R. § 17.120.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 24, 2008
- Citation
- 0809758
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
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.