Bipolar disorder
The VA rates Bipolar disorder under Diagnostic Code 9327 across 6 severity levels, from 0% to 100%. The applicable level depends on the full criteria and the evidence for the condition. These percentages are alternatives, not amounts to add together. There is 1 documented secondary condition linked to Bipolar disorder.
Rating schedule · DC 9327 at a glance
- Minimum rating
- 0%
- Maximum rating
- 100%
- Rating tiers
- 6
- CFR section
- § 4.130
- Body system
- Mental Disorders
- Secondary conditions
- 1
Lowest schedular rating available
Full schedular disability
0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 100%
Where this code is published
Mapped in our database
What are the VA rating criteria for Bipolar disorder?
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Mental condition formally diagnosed but symptoms not severe enough to interfere with occupational/social functioning or require continuous medication. |
| 10% | Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication. |
| 30% | Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss. |
| 50% | Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to flattened affect, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty establishing effective relationships. |
| 70% | Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas (work, school, family, judgment, thinking, mood) due to suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic, impaired impulse control, inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. |
| 100% | Total occupational and social impairment due to gross impairment in thought processes, persistent danger to self or others, persistent delusions or hallucinations, inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation, memory loss for names of close relatives. |
“Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to flattened affect, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty establishing effective relationships.”
Which conditions are commonly secondary to Bipolar disorder?
View 1 secondary condition linked to Bipolar disorder
Medical rationale, evidence strength, and filing tips, rated under 38 CFR § 3.310
What other mental disorders does the VA rate?
These diagnostic codes sit next to Bipolar disorder in 38 CFR Part 4. The rating schedule is ordered anatomically, so neighbouring codes usually cover the same joint, organ, or system, and a claim often involves more than one of them.
- 9303Substance-induced major neurocognitive disorderRated up to 100%
- 9304Major or mild neurocognitive disorder due to traumatic brain injuryRated up to 100%
- 9305Major or mild vascular neurocognitive disorderRated up to 100%
- 9310Unspecified neurocognitive disorderRated up to 100%
- 9312Major or mild neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer's diseaseRated up to 100%
- 9400Generalized anxiety disorderRated up to 100%
- 9403Specific phobia; social anxiety disorder (social phobia)Rated up to 100%
- 9404Obsessive compulsive disorderRated up to 100%
- 9410Other specified anxiety disorderRated up to 100%
- 9411Posttraumatic stress disorderRated up to 100%
What to do with a Bipolar disorder rating
The tools, regulations and guides that pick up where the criteria above leave off.
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On this site
Read next
- The VA C&P Exam Explained: Before, During, and AfterA VA C&P exam helps VA decide service connection and your rating. Here is what happens before, during, and after, plus how to request your exam report.
- VA Service Connection Evidence 101: The Three-Legged StoolFor an original claim tied to active-duty service, VA needs a current disability, an in-service event, and a link between them. Here is what each part takes.
- VA Math Explained: How Combined Disability Ratings Really WorkVA ratings do not add. Learn how 38 CFR 4.25 combines disabilities using whole-person efficiency, why 50 and 30 round to 70, and how the bilateral factor works.
- VA Secondary Conditions Explained: Causation vs AggravationA service-connected condition can cause or worsen other conditions. Learn how 38 CFR 3.310 secondary service connection works: causation versus aggravation.
- VA Mental Health Claims 101: PTSD and Stressor BasicsMental health conditions like PTSD can be service connected. Learn the three parts of a PTSD claim and the several ways the VA lets you prove your stressor.
- TDIU: 100 Percent VA Pay Without a 100 Percent RatingTDIU pays the 100% VA compensation rate without a 100% rating. See the percentage paths, the extraschedular route under 38 CFR 4.16(b), and how work affects it.
- P&T vs 100% VA Disability: What Is the Difference?Permanent and total (P&T) and a 100 percent VA rating are not the same thing. Here is what total, permanent, and protected each mean, and what P&T unlocks.
Common Questions About Bipolar disorder VA Ratings
What is the VA rating range for Bipolar disorder?
The VA rates Bipolar disorder under Diagnostic Code 9327 at 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 100%. The minimum 0% rating requires: Mental condition formally diagnosed but symptoms not severe enough to interfere with occupational/social functioning or require continuous medication.. The maximum 100% rating requires: Total occupational and social impairment due to gross impairment in thought processes, persistent danger to self or others, persistent delusions or hallucinations, inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation, memory loss for names of close relatives..
Which 38 CFR diagnostic code does the VA use for Bipolar disorder?
The VA rates Bipolar disorder under Diagnostic Code (DC) 9327, published in 38 CFR § 4.130. The diagnostic code establishes the specific rating tiers and severity criteria the VA examiner applies.
What is the difference between a 0% and a 100% rating for Bipolar disorder?
A 0% rating requires: Mental condition formally diagnosed but symptoms not severe enough to interfere with occupational/social functioning or require continuous medication.. A 100% rating requires: Total occupational and social impairment due to gross impairment in thought processes, persistent danger to self or others, persistent delusions or hallucinations, inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation, memory loss for names of close relatives.. The difference typically reflects the frequency, severity, or functional impact of the condition as documented in medical records and C&P examination findings.
Can Bipolar disorder qualify for TDIU?
Yes, a 100% rating for Bipolar disorder alone meets the single-disability threshold for TDIU (38 CFR § 4.16). If the condition prevents substantially gainful employment, the veteran is compensated at the 100% rate without a schedular 100% rating.
What evidence supports a higher rating for Bipolar disorder?
The key evidence for Bipolar disorder is documentation of how the condition affects daily functioning. For mental health conditions, lay statements describing social and occupational impairment, treatment records showing medication changes, and documentation of hospitalization or crisis events carry the most weight. A nexus letter from a qualified medical professional linking the current severity to service is essential for contested claims.
Which conditions are commonly secondary to Bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is associated with 1 documented secondary condition. Secondary conditions caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability are ratable under 38 CFR § 3.310. See the secondary conditions page for the full list with medical rationale and evidence strength ratings.
What happens at the C&P exam for Bipolar disorder?
The C&P examiner uses a Mental Disorders DBQ and evaluates your condition against the DC 9327 rating criteria. The examiner conducts a clinical interview assessing occupational and social impairment. Be specific about how symptoms affect work, relationships, and daily activities; vague answers like "I'm doing fine" can result in a lower rating than warranted. Bring buddy statements from family or coworkers who observe your symptoms.
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