The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including determining the feasibility of a VA facility and whether the Veteran was enrolled in the VA health care system at the time of treatment.
The deciding factor: The urgency of the Veteran's medical condition on February 3, 2004, the relative distance of travel involved in reaching a VA facility, or the nature of the treatment made it necessary to use Lakeland Regional Memorial Hospital according to the VA doctor's opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 23, 2009
- Citation
- 0906620
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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.