The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a low back disability, as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.
The deciding factor: The VA physician found that the veteran's current adjustment disorder is not related to his military service, as it is secondary to situational stressors. The diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder predated the veteran's military service and was not caused by any incident during service.
- Claimed conditions
- antisocial personality disorder, adjustment disorder with mildly depressed mood
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2009
- Citation
- 0903659
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,643 · Granted: 15% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0903659.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a higher rating for his anxiety disorder is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion. The effective date for service connection remains denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for antisocial personality disorder, bipolar disorder, and cannabis and alcohol use disorders (claimed as PTSD) was denied. The March 2019 rating decision granted service connection for PTSD with depressive symptoms and a history of intermittent explosive disorder, but the appeal is still pending on other conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders to his military service. The case will be sent back for further examination and opinion.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and antisocial personality disorder, as it was directly related to the Veteran's military service.
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