EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Bipolar II Disorder
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.130 (Mental disorders) · reviewed 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Bipolar II Disorder is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 9432 of 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9432 across 6 severity tiers (0% / 10% / 30% / 50% / 70%…). 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
Mood disorder characterized by at least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode, without full manic episodes. Depressive episodes tend to be more prominent and disabling.
RATING CRITERIA (6 LEVELS)
0%
Diagnosed bipolar II disorder but symptoms not severe enough to interfere with occupational or social functioning, or controlled by continuous medication.
10%
Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency only during periods of significant stress.
30%
Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks due to depressive or hypomanic episodes.
50%
Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to frequent mood cycling, impaired judgment during hypomanic episodes, reduced motivation during depressive episodes.
70%
Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to severe mood instability, inability to maintain relationships, near-continuous depression or hypomania.
100%
Total occupational and social impairment due to persistent severe depression or dangerous hypomanic behavior, danger of hurting self or others.
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