The Veteran's medical expenses for emergency treatment at Presbyterian Hospital on March 5, 2011 were approved due to the severity of his condition and the unavailability of a feasible VA facility.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's facial swelling and pain, diagnosed as dental abscess and facial cellulitis, was of such a nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to life or health. The nearest available VA facility providing emergency care on a Saturday was approximately 34 minutes (20.5 miles) from the Veteran's residence; Presbyterian Hospital was approximately 6 minutes (1.7 miles) away.
- Claimed conditions
- facial swelling, jaw pain, dental abscess, facial cellulitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20055885
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 20055885.
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 Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection and initial rating for various conditions as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection for residuals of an orthognathic surgery with jaw pain is granted. From June 1, 2012 to October 6, 2019, a 20 percent rating for her lower back condition is granted. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied from October 7, 2019.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for chronic rhinitis and sarcoidosis was dismissed. The appeals for erectile dysfunction, skin condition, scar, fibromyalgia, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, CFS, dental abscess, visual acuity, memory loss condition, myocardial infraction, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus were all dismissed.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for hernias and jaw pain are denied due to lack of current disabilities related to the conditions.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as alcohol use disorder) is denied as it is not service-connected.
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