The Veteran's medical expenses for July 30-31, 2017 at Affinity Medical Center were reimbursed as the treatment was necessary due to a service-connected disability and there was no feasible VA alternative.
The deciding factor: The treatment was needed due to a service-connected condition (cholelithiasis with cholecystitis) and the closest VA facility was more than an hour away, making it not feasibly available.
- Claimed conditions
- cholelithiasis, acute and chronic cholecystitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23058312
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 23058312.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's cholelithiasis, status-post cholecystectomy, has been rated at 30 percent since the decision was made. The rating is for severe symptoms including abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for cholelithiasis with subsequent gallbladder removal is denied as she has not been shown to have moderate cholecystitis or mild symptoms resulting from the procedure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives and a need for further medical opinions regarding whether pain medications used for service-connected low back disability caused or aggravated gallbladder disability.
- Granted
The Board granted an increased (Level 2) stipend in the PCAFC for the Veteran's caregiver due to the need for continuous supervision and protection based on the Veteran's medical conditions.
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