The Veteran received emergency medical treatment for upper respiratory infection, vomiting, and cough at Monroe Regional Medical Center on November 26, 2015. The Board found that the nearest VA facility was not feasibly available due to Thanksgiving holiday closures, and granted payment for the unauthorized medical expenses.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's condition required immediate medical attention as evidenced by vomiting and stabbing pain in his abdomen, which a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected to result in serious health jeopardy if delayed.
- Claimed conditions
- upper respiratory infection, vomiting, cough
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20026207
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 20026207.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and upper respiratory illness or upper respiratory infection, finding that the persuasive weight of the evidence did not show a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, and requests medical opinions on the etiology of his coronary artery disease, GERD with dyspepsia, and upper respiratory infection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's upper respiratory infection claim is denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for TBI, an increased rating for PTSD, and entitlement to a TDIU.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left basilar atelectasis, which is also claimed as a cough. The effective date of this grant is August 9, 2023.
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.