Citation Nr: A21020495
Decision Date: 12/23/21	Archive Date: 12/23/21

DOCKET NO. 210129-171665
DATE: December 23, 2021

ORDER

Entitlement to payment or reimbursement for medical costs associated with an episode of care provided by Windom Area Hospital on September 3, 2019 is dismissed.

FINDING OF FACT

During the pendency of the appeal, the appellant's claim was found as timely submitted and costs associated for an episode of care on September 3, 2019 has been paid in full to the appellant.

CONCLUSION OF LAW

The criteria for dismissal of entitlement to payment or reimbursement for medical costs associated with episode of care on September 3, 2019 have been met.  38 U.S.C. § 7105; 38 C.F.R. § 20.205.

REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION

The Veteran had active duty in the Navy from September 1962 to May 1963.  

The appellant is Windom Area Hospital, who provided medical services for the Veteran on September 3, 2019.  

The decision on appeal is from a January 2021 denial from the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).  Here, the AOJ is the Minneapolis VA Medical Center (VAMC).  In January 2021, the AOJ denied the appellant's claim finding that the appellant had not timely submitted a claim.

The appellant submitted a VA Form 10182, Decision Review Request: Board Appeal in January 2021 and selected the evidence submission lane.

Based on internal VA records, the AOJ reversed its decision regarding a timely filed claim.  VA determined that it had received the medical records within 72 hours of the date of service, and that this was considered a valid form of notification.  Furthermore, the facility was a contracted hospital.  Additionally, VA noted that the claim was paid in full on February 11, 2021 under a duplicate claim number.  The appellant was notified as such in a July 2021 letter.

It appears that any controversy has been mooted.  During the pendency of the appeal, the denial for timeliness was revered and the claim was paid in full by VA on February 11, 2021.  As there does not appear to remain any issue related to the initial denial for the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) to decide, dismissal of the appeal is appropriate and so ordered. 

 

L. M. BARNARD

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	J. Lee

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.