Bipolar Disorder VA Disability Rating: Criteria, Evidence & Pay

What is bipolar disorder and how does it affect veterans?

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings between manic (or hypomanic) episodes and depressive episodes. During manic phases, veterans may experience elevated or irritable mood, racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep, impulsive decision-making, and grandiosity. During depressive phases, symptoms mirror major depression — persistent sadness, fatigue, loss of interest, difficulty concentrating, and in severe cases, suicidal ideation.

For veterans, bipolar disorder may first manifest during military service due to the extreme stress of combat, deployment, or military life. In other cases, a genetic predisposition is triggered or significantly worsened by service-related stressors. The unpredictable cycling between mania and depression makes it particularly difficult for veterans to maintain stable employment and relationships.

The VA rates bipolar disorder under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, the same framework used for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The VA evaluates the total impact of your symptoms — across both manic and depressive phases — on your occupational and social functioning. If you are already service-connected for another mental health condition, bipolar symptoms are typically folded into that single rating rather than receiving a separate evaluation.

VA diagnostic code for bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is rated under Diagnostic Code (DC) 9432 per 38 CFR § 4.130, Schedule of Ratings — Mental Disorders.

All mental health conditions rated under 38 CFR § 4.130 use the same General Rating Formula. The criteria focus on the degree of occupational and social impairment caused by your symptoms, not the specific psychiatric diagnosis. This means the rating criteria for bipolar disorder are identical to those for depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions in this section.

Rating criteria for bipolar disorder

The VA assigns bipolar disorder ratings at six possible levels. Here’s what each rating requires and what it pays in 2026:

0% rating

Criteria: A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.

Monthly payment: $0 (but establishes service connection, which matters for future increases and secondary claims)

10% rating — $180.42/month

Criteria: Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication.

What this looks like: Your bipolar disorder is well-managed with mood stabilizers or other medications. You can generally function at work and in relationships, with only mild symptoms emerging during high-stress situations. Your mood cycles are infrequent and relatively mild.

30% rating — $552.47/month

Criteria: Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as:

• Depressed mood
• Anxiety
• Suspiciousness
• Panic attacks (weekly or less often)
• Chronic sleep impairment
• Mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events)

What this looks like: You hold a job but have noticeable periods where bipolar symptoms affect your work. During depressive episodes, productivity drops significantly. During hypomanic or manic phases, you may become irritable with coworkers or make impulsive decisions. Sleep is frequently disrupted — either sleeping too much during depression or barely sleeping during mania.

50% rating — $1,132.90/month

Criteria: Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as:

• Flattened affect
• Circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech
• Panic attacks more than once a week
• Difficulty in understanding complex commands
• Impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks)
• Impaired judgment
• Impaired abstract thinking
• Disturbances of motivation and mood
• Difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships

What this looks like: The cycling between manic and depressive episodes causes regular problems at work and in relationships. During manic phases, impaired judgment leads to poor decisions — overspending, risky behavior, or conflict with others. During depressive phases, you may struggle to show up to work or complete basic responsibilities. Coworkers and family members have noticed the pattern.

70% rating — $1,808.45/month

Criteria: Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as:

• Suicidal ideation
• Obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities
• Speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant
• Near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately, and effectively
• Impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence)
• Spatial disorientation
• Neglect of personal appearance and hygiene
• Difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a work-like setting)
• Inability to establish and maintain effective relationships

What this looks like: Bipolar disorder severely disrupts most areas of your life. Manic episodes may involve psychotic features, extreme impulsivity, or aggressive outbursts that damage relationships and result in job loss. Depressive episodes are prolonged and debilitating, potentially involving suicidal ideation or attempts. You may have been hospitalized. Maintaining stable employment is extremely difficult due to the unpredictable nature of your mood cycles.

100% rating — $3,938.58/month

Criteria: Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms 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 (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene)
• Disorientation to time or place
• Memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name

What this looks like: You cannot work in any capacity and cannot maintain meaningful social relationships. Manic episodes may include severe psychotic features such as delusions of grandeur or paranoia. Depressive episodes leave you unable to care for yourself. You may require psychiatric hospitalization or continuous supervision.

What evidence do you need?

Building a strong bipolar disorder claim requires several types of evidence:

Service records

• Service treatment records documenting any in-service mental health complaints, mood episodes, or psychiatric treatment
• Personnel records showing behavioral changes — erratic performance, disciplinary actions, or incidents consistent with manic or depressive episodes
• Records of any psychiatric hospitalizations during service

Medical evidence

• Current diagnosis of bipolar disorder from a qualified mental health professional (psychiatrist or psychologist), clearly distinguishing it from other mood disorders
• Treatment records showing the pattern, frequency, and severity of manic and depressive episodes over time
• Medication records, including mood stabilizers (lithium, valproate), antipsychotics, and antidepressants
• Any psychiatric hospitalization records, especially for manic episodes with psychotic features or suicidal behavior during depressive episodes

Nexus letter

A medical opinion letter connecting your bipolar disorder to your military service. Because bipolar disorder has a genetic component, the VA may argue it pre-existed service. A strong nexus letter should address whether military service triggered the initial onset of the condition, or whether service aggravated a pre-existing vulnerability beyond its natural progression. The letter should state that the connection is “at least as likely as not.”

Buddy statements

Statements from fellow service members, family, or friends who can describe:

• Observable mood swings and behavioral changes during or after service
• Specific incidents during manic episodes (impulsive behavior, sleeplessness, grandiosity) or depressive episodes (withdrawal, inability to function)
• How the condition has impacted your daily life, employment, and relationships over time

Personal statement

Your own detailed account describing the full impact of bipolar disorder on your life. Document both phases — describe what manic episodes look like for you and what depressive episodes look like. Include specific examples: “During my last manic episode in January, I didn’t sleep for four days, maxed out two credit cards spending $8,000 on things I didn’t need, and got into a physical altercation with a stranger at a gas station. The following month, I couldn’t leave my bed for two weeks and my wife had to take over all household responsibilities.”

C&P exam tips for bipolar disorder

The Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam is often the most important part of your bipolar disorder claim. Here’s how to prepare:

What the examiner evaluates

The examiner uses the DSM-5 criteria for bipolar disorder and assesses your symptoms against the VA’s rating criteria. They evaluate:

• Frequency, duration, and severity of manic and depressive episodes
• Impact on occupational functioning across both phases of the illness
• Impact on social functioning and relationships
• Whether you need continuous medication (mood stabilizers, antipsychotics)
• History of psychiatric hospitalization
• Your overall level of impairment

How to prepare

1. Document both phases. The examiner needs to understand the full cycle of your condition. Don’t just describe depression — also describe your manic episodes in detail.
2. Don’t minimize your symptoms. If you happen to be in a stable period during the exam, clearly explain that this is not representative of your typical functioning. Describe your worst episodes.
3. Bring medication records. The number and types of medications you take, dosage changes, and medication failures all demonstrate the severity of your condition.
4. Bring a family member. A spouse or close family member can describe the impact of your mood episodes from an outside perspective — they often notice things you don’t.
5. Prepare a timeline. Having a written timeline of major manic and depressive episodes, hospitalizations, job losses, and relationship impacts can help you communicate clearly during the exam.

Common mistakes

• Being examined during a stable period and presenting as higher-functioning than typical
• Only describing depressive symptoms and forgetting to discuss manic episodes (or vice versa)
• Not mentioning suicidal ideation during depressive episodes if it occurs
• Failing to describe the full occupational impact, including jobs lost due to manic behavior or depressive inability to function

Common secondary conditions linked to bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder frequently causes or aggravates other conditions. These can be claimed as secondary service-connected disabilities:

• Sleep apnea — Medications used to treat bipolar disorder (mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics) commonly cause significant weight gain, which is a major risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. The sleep disruption inherent to bipolar disorder also contributes.
• Migraines — The neurological instability associated with bipolar disorder and the stress of mood cycling can trigger chronic headaches and migraines. Some bipolar medications can also contribute to headaches.
• GERD — Chronic stress, medication side effects (particularly from lithium and valproate), and irregular eating patterns during manic and depressive episodes can lead to or worsen gastroesophageal reflux disease.

How to calculate your monthly payment

Your total VA disability payment depends on your combined rating across all service-connected conditions, not just bipolar disorder alone. Use our VA disability calculator to:

• Calculate your combined rating with multiple conditions
• See how VA math combines ratings differently than simple addition
• Estimate your monthly payment including dependents

For the full breakdown of payment amounts at every rating level, see our 2026 VA disability pay rates page.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. For personalized guidance on your VA disability claim, consult a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO), attorney, or claims agent. You can find accredited representatives at VA.gov.