The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical services received at Community Hospital in Anaconda, Montana from March 24, 2016 through March 25, 2016 is denied because the treatment was not for a condition that arose during his military service and he refused to be transferred to a VA facility.
The deciding factor: The Veteran refused to be transferred to a VA facility after being stabilized from an emergency situation at Community Hospital.
- Claimed conditions
- community acquired pneumonia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19193564
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,726 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19193564.
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 Veteran's death was caused by multiple conditions, including diabetes mellitus. The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed to his death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical opinion addressing whether any service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death, which was caused by sepsis.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for clarification regarding a third opinion from the Mayo Clinic. The Veteran's death is being reviewed to determine if his service-connected conditions contributed to his cause of death.
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.