★ Mental Health
Bipolar Disorder VA Rating
38 CFR § 4.130, Diagnostic Code 9432
Overview
Bipolar disorder includes manic, hypomanic, and depressive episodes — VA rates the overall functional impact.
Many veterans are first diagnosed with depression and later reclassified as bipolar, which can affect rating history.
Substance use frequently co-occurs and is rated as part of the same mental health disability.
How to Establish Service Connection
- Direct: in-service treatment, hospitalization, or documented manic/depressive episodes.
- Presumptive: psychoses (which can include certain bipolar presentations) within one year of separation.
- Secondary: bipolar symptoms aggravated by chronic pain, TBI, or PTSD.
Rating Criteria
Paraphrased from 38 CFR § 4.130, Diagnostic Code 9432
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Diagnosed condition, but symptoms are not severe enough to interfere with work or social functioning, or symptoms are controlled by continuous medication. |
| 10% | Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency only during periods of significant stress. |
| 30% | Occasional decrease in work efficiency with intermittent inability to perform tasks; depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss. |
| 50% | Reduced reliability and productivity; flattened affect; circumstantial speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty understanding complex commands; impairment of memory; impaired judgment; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships. |
| 70% | Deficiencies in most areas (work, school, family, judgment, thinking, mood); suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals; near-continuous panic or depression; impaired impulse control; spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance; difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances; inability to maintain effective relationships. |
| 100% | Total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living; disorientation to time or place; memory loss for own name, occupation, or close relatives. |
See what each percentage pays in 2026 and how it combines with your current rating →
Evidence Checklist
- Psychiatric treatment records documenting episode frequency and severity.
- Hospitalization records (manic episodes often require inpatient care).
- Lay statements from spouse/family describing mood cycles.
- Medication history (lithium, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics).
Common Secondary Conditions
Conditions frequently service-connected as secondary to Bipolar Disorder:
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a Bipolar Disorder claim or denial?
Four fields. A VA-accredited claims agent reviews it and responds within 3–5 business days. Contingent fees apply only to awarded past-due benefits on appeals — never on initial claims.
Requesting a consultation does not create representation and is not a guarantee of any outcome. Representation begins only after a written fee agreement and VA Form 21-22a are signed.
Educational content only — not legal advice and not medical advice. Rating criteria on this page are summarized in plain English from 38 CFR Part 4; consult VA.gov or the current Code of Federal Regulations for official criteria. This page provides general education about how the VA rates this condition; it is not individualized advice, does not establish a representation relationship, and should not be used to self-diagnose, self-treat, or decide a course of action without speaking to a qualified clinician and a VA-accredited representative. Outcomes depend on each veteran's individual facts, evidence, and the adjudicator's judgment; no specific rating, effective date, or other result is guaranteed. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Related Conditions
Major Depressive Disorder
Depression ratings, secondary connections, and what the C&P examiner looks for.
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Service-connected PTSD ratings, common stressors, and evidence strategy.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety ratings under the general mental health formula and common evidence.