Citation Nr: 21061773
Decision Date: 10/05/21	Archive Date: 10/05/21

DOCKET NO. 19-11 201A
DATE: October 5, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to reimbursement for private ambulance transportation through Brewster Ambulance to the Providence VA Emergency Room on September 1, 2018 is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The appeal comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a decision of the Veterans' Health Administration denying reimbursement for private ambulance transportation to the Providence VA emergency room on September 1, 2018. The amount in question is $3,735.

Under 38 C.F.R. § 70.4 (d), when payment for beneficiary travel is requested for travel that includes a special mode of transportation (which includes an ambulance), VA will approve payment if (1) the travel is medically required; (2) the beneficiary is unable to defray the cost of such transportation; and (3) VHA approved the travel prior to travel in the special mode of transportation or the travel was undertaken in connection with a medical emergency.

Unfortunately, remand is required as there are outstanding records that may speak to whether the travel was medically required and undertaken in connection with a medical emergency. 

Specifically, the Statement of the Case (SOC) cites to September 1, 2018 Providence VA treatment notes that are not of record. Remand is required for these outstanding VA records to be associated with the record. 

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

Obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records from September 1, 2018 at the Providence VAMC and associate such with the electronic file.  

 

Evan M. Deichert

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	T. C. KING

The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.