The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, a disorder of the bilateral lower extremities, and an initial disability rating greater than 40 percent for DDD of the lumbosacral spine with acquired spinal stenosis status post laminectomy. The Board found no current disability associated with the in-service cervical neoplasia, status post LEEP, and denied service connection for this condition. For the lumbar spine disability, the Board found that the evidence did not more closely approximate the criteria for a rating greater than 40 percent.

The deciding factor: The veteran's personal opinion regarding her current disabilities was not competent evidence as pain alone does not constitute a disability for which service connection may be granted. The medical evidence of record did not show pronounced neurological symptoms, unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12 months.

Claimed conditions

cervical neoplasia status post LEEP, disorder of the bilateral lower extremities, cervical disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine with acquired spinal stenosis status post laminectomy

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

40%

Decision date

April 21, 2006

Citation

0611466

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 0611466.