The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred for emergency treatment at a non-VA facility from December 27, 2010 through December 31, 2011 are denied as the preponderance of evidence shows that seeking VA care beforehand would have been considered reasonable by a prudent layperson.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not attempt to seek VA treatment prior to his admission to St. Cloud Hospital for emergency medical services due to a heart attack.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart attack, Atrial fibrillation, Postoperative atrial fibrillation complicated by stroke
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 7, 2018
- Citation
- 1813867
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 1813867.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to SMC based on the need for aid and attendance for the Veteran's spouse due to conflicting information in the June 2025 examination. A VA examination is needed to determine if the spouse requires regular aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of ambulance transportation costs incurred on January 9, 2021, was granted. The ambulance transport was deemed necessary due to the Veteran experiencing symptoms consistent with a heart attack and required immediate medical attention.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death (acute respiratory failure, atrial fibrillation, and/or hypertension) is related to his active duty service, including from exposure to toxins and chemicals from open burn pits during the harsh winters in Korea. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands for obtaining a VA medical opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred from February 24 to February 26, 2020, at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) is being remanded due to unclear decision notices and lack of documentation regarding any specific errors in the claim.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.