The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Harrison Medical Center and Olympic Medical Imaging on August 21, 2013 are denied as there was no emergency condition requiring immediate treatment, the facility was not feasibly available, and VA facilities were available for his thumb condition.
The deciding factor: VA facilities were feasibly available to treat the Veteran's non-service connected right thumb condition without delay, and he waited two weeks before seeking private treatment.
- Claimed conditions
- Right thumb condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 12, 2018
- Citation
- 1822236
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 1822236.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as a neck condition, to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right thumb condition. The examiner is asked to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current right thumb pain is related to his active service, including heavy lifting and exposure to cold weather, or if it is caused by or resulted from his service-connected right hand cold injuries.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) for the period from March 22, 2012 to June 15, 2014 due to incomplete records and further evidentiary development is needed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine condition and a right thumb condition due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran contends his conditions are related to in-service injuries, but the VA examiner did not provide sufficient rationale or consider all relevant medical evidence.
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