The Veteran's unauthorized non-VA medical expenses incurred on April 24, 2011 for migraine headaches and vomiting were covered as they met the criteria of an emergency treatment. The expenses incurred on September 29, 2011 did not meet these criteria.
The deciding factor: The Veteran sought emergency care for severe headache and vomiting that could have been life-threatening if delayed, meeting the standard for emergent medical treatment.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease at L3-4, right knee strain with limitation of flexion, right knee strain, postoperative with limitation of extension, left knee patellofemoral syndrome with limitation of flexion, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, status-post arthroscopy with limitation of extension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 15, 2016
- Citation
- 1643404
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 1643404.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence showing hearing loss for VA purposes.,Affording the Veteran the benefit of doubt, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) is granted.,The Veteran's right knee strain with limitation of flexion is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no higher rating is warranted as there is no evidence showing more than limited flexion.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability is granted.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is denied, and a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy and right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy are each rated at 10 percent.,A higher rating for service-connected left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis is denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's right upper extremity nerve damage and denied an increased rating for left upper extremity nerve damage. Other issues were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, assigned a 20% rating for right knee strain with limitation of flexion, denied a compensable rating for right knee strain with limitation of extension, and granted a separate 20% rating for right knee instability. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, and GERD were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for various conditions, including right and left ankle sprain, right and left knee strain with limitation of flexion and extension, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and a lumbar spine scar, with effective dates from February 21, 2019. The Board also granted increased ratings for right and left ankle sprain starting July 13, 2022.
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