The Veteran's right thumb laceration required immediate treatment on February 15, 2013. The closest VA facilities were not feasibly available and would have resulted in a delay that could be hazardous to his health. Therefore, the Board finds that reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right thumb laceration required immediate treatment due to its emergent nature, which necessitated private emergency care at Geneva General Hospital. The closest VA facilities were not feasibly available and would have resulted in a delay that could be hazardous to his health.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Thumb Laceration
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2014
- Citation
- 1423122
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 1423122.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a verified stressor for PTSD and therefore, service connection is denied. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the right thumb laceration.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's right thumb laceration has been manifested by no or little gap between the thumb pad and fingers, even taking into account her complaints of pain. The disability does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.
- Granted
The VA has continued the current 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected residuals of right thumb laceration, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion.
- Denied
The Board found that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a right thumb laceration do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The claims for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury and back injury were deemed not well-grounded.
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