The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment at Sparrow Hospital on December 14, 2010 are denied because the emergency services were not provided in a VA facility and there was no reasonable expectation that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to life or health.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of abdominal pain did not meet the criteria for an emergency condition as they were not severe enough to place his health at risk if delayed, and he could arrive unaccompanied by vehicle from home within a reasonable time frame.
- Claimed conditions
- abdominal pain, dehydration, peptic ulcer disease by history, leukocytosis, probable acute gastritis, possible pancreatitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2014
- Citation
- 1453267
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 1453267.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current respiratory disability other than sleep apnea. The claims for abdominal pain, type I diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an immune disorder are remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and abdominal pain as there is no current diagnosed disability of IBS or functional impairment due to abdominal or constipation symptoms.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for leukocytosis is granted. The Board finds the evidence in balance, granting the benefit of doubt to the Veteran.,For his spine disability, the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent is denied as there is no evidence showing forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes in the past year.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder. Service connection for abdominal pain is denied.
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