The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for emergency care received at Ocala Regional Medical Center and transportation from Marion County Fire Rescue on February 5, 2011 are granted as the treatment was for a medical emergency of such nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention to be hazardous to life or health. Additionally, VA facilities were not feasibly available at the time.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath met the criteria for an emergent condition, as evidenced by ambulance personnel describing it as an emergency run and subsequent treatment records from Ocala Regional Medical Center confirming these symptoms. The closest VA facility was 45 minutes away, which given the nature of the Veteran's symptoms cannot be considered feasibly available.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- July 14, 2015
- Citation
- 1530035
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 1530035.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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