The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for non-VA treatment at Summa Health System on August 8, 2017 are granted as the treatment was rendered in a medical emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.
The deciding factor: The Veteran presented with symptoms of an Achilles tendon tear and deep vein thrombosis which caused her to believe she needed immediate medical attention at an emergency department due to anxiety and apprehension about her health.
- Claimed conditions
- left Achilles tendon tear, right leg deep vein thrombosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 25, 2023
- Citation
- 23047235
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 23047235.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left ankle, left knee, back, and tinnitus disabilities but denied service connection for a left Achilles tendon tear and right knee disability.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a left Achilles tendon tear and denied higher ratings, initial compensable ratings, and service connections for other conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left Achilles tendon tear and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The decision on left Achilles tendon tear is due to a lack of in-service event, while the decision on erectile dysfunction requires an addendum opinion addressing aggravation.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with the claim for diabetes mellitus. Therefore, all issues related to heart condition, right and left leg deep vein thrombosis, lung condition, right ankle condition, face numbness, and depression secondary to diabetes mellitus must be remanded as well.
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