The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses at Florida Hospital Altamonte on August 13, 2014, and August 17, 2014, were denied as the treatment was not for a service-connected disability or an aggravation of a service-connected condition. The Board found that no VA facility was feasibly available and using one beforehand would have been reasonable.
The deciding factor: The closest VA medical center was within less than a mile from the treating facility, making it feasible to use before seeking treatment at Florida Hospital Altamonte.
- Claimed conditions
- back pain, neck pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20069613
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back pain, knee and wrist joint pains, neck pain, anxiety, depression, as further development is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic diarrhea, headaches, and neck pain for initial adjudication on the merits by the AOJ.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for tinnitus, migraines, left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and back pain to provide proper VCAA notice and further development.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeals for service connection due to untimely filings.
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