The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for a rib fracture at Ocala Regional Medical Center on April 7, 2015 are now covered by VA due to the reversal of previous decisions and the Court's decision in Staab v. McDonald.
The deciding factor: The amended regulation allows for payment or reimbursement under 38 U.S.C. § 1725 when a veteran has coverage under a health-plan contract that would not fully extinguish their liability, as was the case with the Veteran’s Medicare Parts A and B coverage.
- Claimed conditions
- rib fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 28, 2018
- Citation
- 18139524
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 18139524.
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: Dismissed
The appeal concerning service connection for a rib fracture was dismissed due to the Veteran not timely filing a VA Form 10182 with the July 2022 rating decision appealed herein. The other claims were remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection on all of the veteran's claimed conditions due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The appeals for other conditions are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's heart condition is granted service connection as secondary to his left pneumonectomy with thoracotomy. The rib fracture appeal is withdrawn. A remand for a higher rating and TDIU claim is ordered.
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