The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital on December 22, 2017 was denied because VA facilities were feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been considered reasonable by a prudent layperson.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA Clinic was open at the time the Veteran went to the NHMCC emergency room, which was approximately 8.5 miles away, and concluded that it was not feasible or practical for the Veteran to travel to the VA Clinic due to his pain level and circumstances at the time treatment was sought.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 26, 2023
- Citation
- 23040978
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 23040978.
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).
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