The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Casa Grande Medical Center on October 24, 2005 was denied. The VAMC found that the VA was feasibly available and this was non-emergent. The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of records regarding contact with the Tucson VAMC.
The deciding factor: The VAMC's decision was based on the assumption that the Veteran could have been treated at the VA facility, which is not supported by evidence showing he contacted the VA before going to the private hospital. The Board has ordered additional action to obtain these records and ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.
- Claimed conditions
- laceration
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 10, 2010
- Citation
- 1017174
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 1017174.
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.