The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Hillcrest Medical Center on March 12, 2006 is denied because the evidence does not show that he was in an emergency situation, received prior authorization from VA, or sought post-treatment authorization within 72 hours. The care provided did not meet one of the regulatory conditions for payment under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728 and 38 C.F.R. § 17.120.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran was in an emergency situation, received prior authorization from VA, or sought post-treatment authorization within 72 hours of receiving care at Hillcrest Medical Center on March 12, 2006.
- Claimed conditions
- back strain, psychiatric disorder, arthritis, hearing loss, pes planus, incomplete paralysis of the median nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2009
- Citation
- 0941979
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 0941979.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. However, it was determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, thus denying both claims.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus condition was aggravated by service. The effective date is August 15, 2025.
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