EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Personality Disorder (Service-Connected Aggravation)
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.130 (Mental disorders) · reviewed 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Personality Disorder (Service-Connected Aggravation) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 9440 of 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9440; VAOPGCPREC 82-90 across 4 severity tiers (0% / 10% / 30% / 50%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Personality disorders are generally considered developmental and not service-connectable; however, they may be rated if aggravated beyond normal progression by military service or if a superimposed injury or disease in service resulted in additional disability.
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
0%
Personality disorder present but no aggravation beyond natural progression demonstrated.
10%
Occupational and social impairment due to mild aggravation of personality disorder symptoms above pre-service baseline.
30%
Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency due to service-aggravated personality disorder symptoms.
50%
Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to significant aggravation of personality disorder patterns by service experiences.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.130 (Mental disorders). Source verified 2026-05-15 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026