The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital on January 2, 2013 was denied as the evidence did not meet the requirements for emergency treatment under VA regulations.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no indication of a medical emergency necessitating immediate care and that the nearest VA facility was feasible to provide the necessary care. The Veteran's lay assertions regarding his symptoms were deemed less credible than the objective medical records which did not indicate an urgent need for treatment.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease L5-S1, left ankle Achilles tendonitis, status post fracture right 5th metacarpal (major), status post fracture left 4th metacarpal (minor), hypertension, plantar fasciitis, left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2015
- Citation
- 1519275
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 1519275.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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