The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders did not have onset during service, were not caused by his active service, and a psychosis did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his personality disorder and substance abuse rather than service.
- Claimed conditions
- Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Stimulant (cocaine) Use Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 16, 2016
- Citation
- 1624279
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 1624279.
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: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder was granted a 70 percent disability rating from January 22, 2025, to the present. The symptoms indicate significant occupational and social impairment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining service treatment records and verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ADT) and inactive duty for training (IDT). The claim will be reconsidered with these issues addressed.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Unspecified Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Other Specified Personality Disorder, and Unspecified Depressive Disorder, due to in-service sexual trauma.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for borderline personality disorder and a psychiatric disorder other than borderline personality disorder, to include major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as the evidence did not support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.