The Veteran's medical expenses at the University of Michigan Hospital were not authorized for payment or reimbursement because VA facilities were feasibly available and he did not attempt to use them beforehand.
The deciding factor: VA facilities, including the Ann Arbor VAMC and Detroit VAMC, were within reasonable distance from the Veteran's residence and feasible options when he presented for treatment on May 30, 2008.
- Claimed conditions
- Upper cervical spine pain, Headache (explosive sensation), Degenerative disc disease in lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2011
- Citation
- 1114895
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1114895.
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.
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- Whole decision: Denied
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- Whole decision: Denied
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- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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