The Board denied reimbursement for unauthorized private medical expenses incurred in February and March 2010 for right eye cataracts treatment because the care was not rendered due to a medical emergency, and the underlying condition (right eye cataracts) was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the private treatment was not rendered in response to a medical emergency and thus did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under section 1725 of VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- right eye cataracts
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20080336
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right eye retinal detachment and remanded the claims for right eye cataracts and choroidal hemangioma for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right eye injury, including cataracts, macular degeneration, and blepharitis, as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his in-service right eye injury.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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.