The Veteran's emergency room visit at Baptist Medical Center on March 29, 2016 was approved because the delay in seeking medical attention would have been hazardous to his life or health and VA facilities were not feasibly available.
The deciding factor: The symptoms of a swollen leg and concern for a heart attack made it unreasonable for the Veteran to travel to a distant VA facility for emergency treatment.
- Claimed conditions
- Swollen leg, Heart attack
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18139045
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 18139045.
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 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's emergency treatment for a heart attack was approved as reasonable and necessary, with no service-connected condition involved.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's unauthorized, non-VA medical expenses for a heart attack from November 29 to November 30, 2018 are granted as the care was emergent and VA facilities were not feasibly available.
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.