The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for emergency services at Bridgton Hospital on December 15, 2007 are granted as the treatment was necessary due to an emergency and no VA facility was feasibly available.
The deciding factor: The Veteran reasonably expected immediate medical attention due to a potential life-threatening condition (brain aneurism) which led her to seek care at Bridgton Hospital.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral varicose veins, status post arthroscopy and removal of plica of the left knee, residuals of a fracture of the right ring finger, bursitis of the left hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2009
- Citation
- 0940151
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0940151.
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 has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral varicose veins due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no direct evidence linking his conditions to his active service.
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The lumbar spine disability has also been granted but the effective date is not specified.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathies, and left lower extremity radiculopathy with foot drop. The issues include determining if these conditions are related to service or other factors.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since June 30, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU effective July 1, 2018.
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