The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment at South Seminole Hospital on February 19, 2012 are approved as the VA facilities were not feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been considered unreasonable by a prudent layperson.
The deciding factor: The Veteran reported severe abdominal pain and other symptoms that required immediate medical attention. The ambulance transport determined that non-VA care was more urgent than driving 30 miles to the VA facility.
- Claimed conditions
- Abdominal pain, UTI-like symptoms
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2016
- Citation
- 1647760
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1647760.
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 Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of colon cancer is granted, with a new rating of 30 percent effective December 1, 2024. The claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for two painful scars and for compensable ratings for four remaining scars are denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a disability manifested by abdominal pain, and remanded the claims for service connection for dyspnea and acute myeloid leukemia.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records and the need for VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for hearing loss, abdominal pain, and a left eye disorder was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement. The appeals for other conditions were denied based on lack of evidence linking them to service.
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