The Board found that the Veteran's medical treatment on February 25, 2010, at Cumberland Medical Center was not for an emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available. Therefore, he is not eligible for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses.
The deciding factor: The treatment did not meet the criteria for being in a medical emergency that would have been hazardous to life or health if delayed, and VA facilities were available.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute bronchitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 1, 2013
- Citation
- 1303536
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 1303536.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted a 100 percent evaluation for acute bronchitis from November 29, 2020, and denied a compensable rating prior to that date. The claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was remanded.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal as there was no decision for review regarding reimbursement of non-VA medical expenses incurred on June 7, 2019.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's acute bronchitis was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. Continuity of symptomatology is not established or is attributable to intercurrent causes. The disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and other respiratory disabilities, including exposure to asbestos in service. The Veteran must be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his respiratory disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.