The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses related to a radical prostatectomy is denied as there was no prior authorization from VA and the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment.
The deciding factor: VA regulations require prior authorization for unauthorized medical expenses, which were not provided in this case. The treatment also did not qualify as an emergency requiring immediate care.
- Claimed conditions
- adenocarcinoma of the prostate, residuals of adenocarcinoma of the prostate
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2014
- Citation
- 1408264
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 1408264.
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 Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the prostate is rated at 60 percent effective February 5, 2021. An effective date of August 5, 2020 for a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus type II has been granted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and verruca vulgaris of the right hand are not rated as compensable.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's cause of death, cardiorespiratory arrest and adult failure to thrive, is not service-connected as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents. The Board finds that the medical evidence does not support a finding of service connection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's prostate condition was restored to a 60% rating effective December 16, 2025.,An earlier effective date of August 23, 2012, for the grant of TDIU is granted.,SMC at the housebound rate is granted effective September 4, 2025.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder, tinnitus, and urethritis, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.
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