The Veteran's service connection claim for borderline personality disorder was denied. The appeal regarding the initial rating higher than 20 percent for low back disability prior to March 20, 2006 was dismissed as moot due to a change in his PTSD status. A rating of 40 percent for low back disability beginning June 22, 1998 was granted. The appeal regarding the initial rating higher than 40 percent for low back disability after June 22, 1998 and the claims for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service connection claim for borderline personality disorder was not supported by evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence/aggravation. The appeal regarding the initial rating higher than 20 percent for low back disability prior to March 20, 2006 was dismissed as moot due to changes in his PTSD status. A rating of 40 percent for low back disability beginning June 22, 1998 was granted based on evidence showing severe limitation of motion and no ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- borderline personality disorder, low back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19132941
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,341 · Granted: 33% (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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19132941.
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 Board has found that remand is needed for the Veteran's claims due to duty to assist errors, including clarification of periods of service and obtaining relevant records. The Veteran will be afforded new medical examinations for each claimed disability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of right shoulder disability and low back disability due to insufficient evidence.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability was granted with an effective date of January 9, 2018. The Board accepted her November 21, 2019 VA Form 20-0996 as a valid opt-in of the April 2019 SOC into the modernized review system.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal concerning diabetes and a low back disability has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
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