The Veteran's private medical care was not authorized by VA in advance and does not meet the statutory requirements for reimbursement.
The deciding factor: The treatment did not satisfy all three prongs of 38 U.S.C. § 1728: it was not rendered for a service-connected disability, there was no evidence of an emergency medical condition requiring private care, and the Veteran had reasonable access to VA facilities.
- Claimed conditions
- pelvic fractures, fractured vertebrae between L1 and L5, broken ribs, head contusion, brain bleed
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 24, 2017
- Citation
- 1753814
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1753814.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for hypertension was denied as his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 7101.,Service connection for broken ribs was also denied. The Board found that there were no current residuals or symptoms related to the in-service broken ribs, and thus service connection could not be established.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to properly consider the Appellant's claim under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1728 and for obtaining treatment records related to the Veteran's April 7, 2020, care.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a procedural error in obtaining an examination for the Veteran's brain aneurysm, which is related to Agent Orange exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for broken ribs residuals as there was no objective evidence of a current disability, any clinical or other corroborating evidence of the alleged historical rib fracture, or a causal link between the two.
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