The Board finds that the Veteran is not entitled to fee-basis surgical placement of an intrathecal pain pump, nor is she entitled any maintenance or medication refills for the pain pump currently implanted. Thus, the claim is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that VA facilities are available and geographically accessible to provide the Veteran with oral medications in lieu of a pain pump, which makes her pain more manageable given that she already has an intrathecal pain pump in place.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with L4-L5 disc disease, arachnoiditis, cervical arachnoiditis, thoracic arachnoiditis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 7, 2009
- Citation
- 0912847
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 0912847.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any identified back disabilities, including whether they are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding the proposed reduction of disability ratings for radiculopathy and degenerative disk disease lumbar spine. The appeal as to service-connection for arachnoiditis is remanded due to inadequate examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for TDIU, increased ratings for lumbar stenosis and arachnoiditis are being remanded due to the need for additional records from SSA and VRE.
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