The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for emergency room treatment at Unity Hospital on February 22, 2013 were reimbursed because a VA facility was not feasibly available and the Veteran had attempted to seek care at his local VAMC.
The deciding factor: A VA nurse assistant advised the Veteran to go to the emergency room due to an emergent condition involving swelling and bleeding from a pacemaker surgical site, which he initially sought treatment for at his local VAMC but was directed to go to Unity Hospital instead.
- Claimed conditions
- swelling, bloody drainage from the surgical placement of a pacemaker
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 17, 2014
- Citation
- 1427449
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 1427449.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tender left knee, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches due to new and material evidence. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development, including VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot disability, including arthritis, pain, and swelling, is not related to service or any service-connected condition. The claim for service connection is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right foot disability is related to service or any event, injury, or disease during service, and whether it is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected callus of the right foot.
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