The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital on September 28, 2010 were not rendered in an emergency situation. The Board found that the evidence did not support reimbursement under either Section 1725 or 1728.
The deciding factor: The treatment provided was for a check-up of a pre-existing condition (pacemaker implantation) and not in response to an emergency, which is required by law for unauthorized medical expenses to be reimbursed.
- Claimed conditions
- Pacemaker implantation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2012
- Citation
- 1211923
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 1211923.
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: Granted
The Board granted service connection for pacemaker implantation as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and awarded a 100 percent rating for coronary artery disease, rendering the issue of TDIU moot.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected heart disability, including aortic valvular stenosis and hypertension, was not rated higher than 30 percent. The appeal for hypertension was denied as it did not meet the criteria for service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for bradycardia with pacemaker implantation, finding no nexus to military service or service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board finds that there is no evidence showing a direct relationship between the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability and his current heart disabilities, including CAD. The competent medical opinions do not support a finding of secondary aggravation.
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