The Veteran incurred unauthorized medical expenses at St. Mary's Medical Center from July 2, 2007 to July 30, 2007 due to an acute upper gastrointestinal bleed following his coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The Board found that the attempt to use a VA facility before seeking treatment at St. Mary's would not have been considered reasonable by a prudent layperson and granted payment of unauthorized medical expenses.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had non-emergent symptoms prior to hospitalization, but his condition was acute and immediate upon admission to St. Mary's, leading the Board to find that VA personnel advised him to go straight to St. Mary's ER rather than a VA facility.
- Claimed conditions
- Upper gastrointestinal bleed
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 10, 2009
- Citation
- 0942878
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 0942878.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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).
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