BVA decisions by condition
Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis): BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2018 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) issue in 1,825 decisions. It granted the bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) issue in 34.3% of them, above the 19.9% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 22.2%, and remanded it in 41.7%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 60.7% were granted.
Decisions
1,825
2018–2026
Granted
34.3%
All conditions: 19.9%
Granted on the merits
60.7%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
41.7%
Denied: 22.2%
Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 268 | 32.1% | 16.4% | 45.1% |
| 2019 | 264 | 31.8% | 23.9% | 43.2% |
| 2020 | 233 | 37.3% | 22.3% | 39.9% |
| 2021 | 180 | 28.9% | 27.2% | 42.2% |
| 2022 | 174 | 33.9% | 16.1% | 45.4% |
| 2023 | 199 | 32.7% | 20.6% | 45.2% |
| 2024 | 233 | 39.1% | 22.3% | 38.6% |
| 2025 | 207 | 34.3% | 29.5% | 37.2% |
| 2026 | 67 | 46.3% | 22.4% | 31.3% |
Evidence in granted and denied bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 400 | 87.7% | 48.3% | +39.4 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 263 | 81.9% | 54.8% | +27.1 pts |
| Buddy statement | 64 | 83.8% | 59.9% | +23.9 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 672 | 71.7% | 51.5% | +20.2 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 169 | 73.1% | 59.9% | +13.3 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 171 | 68.8% | 59.6% | +9.2 pts |
| Combat service | 83 | 47.9% | 61.3% | −13.4 pts |
| Lay statement | 1,454 | 58.6% | 72.7% | −14.1 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 71.2% of the decisions that granted bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis).
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 34.2% of grants and 11.6% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 748 | 61.3% | 60.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 1,229 | 57.1% | 72.9% | −15.8 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis)
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established58
- Symptoms approximated total occupational and social impairment9
- Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas9
- Holistic analysis of symptoms considered8
- Aggravated by the service-connected disability8
- Service records negative or silent7
- New and material evidence submitted6
- Service connection established6
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim42
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service24
- Service records negative or silent24
- No current diagnosis21
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis14
- Current diagnosis established11
- No gross impairment in thought processes or communication6
- No persistent danger of hurting self or others3
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) decisions
Granted
Restoration of 50% rating warranted due to lack of improvement in veteran's ability to function.; Evidence supports 70% rating due to symptoms like suicidal ideation, near-constant anxiety, and memory impairment.; Earlier effective date for 70% rating granted due to continuous pursuit of claim.
RO favorably found diagnosis of bipolar disorder, type II, and treated in service.; Veteran found normal upon examination shortly after enlistment.; Presumption of soundness upon entrance to service not rebutted.; Consistent lay statements found credible and probative.; Resolving all doubt in veteran's favor, service connection granted.
Favorable private medical opinion linking bipolar disorder to military experiences; Inadequate VA examiner opinion; Evidence in approximate balance, resolved in Veteran's favor
Denied
Symptoms approximated 30% rating criteria; Ameliorative effects of medication considered; Intact memory, insight, judgment, grooming, speech, thought processes at exam
VA examiner concluded in-service symptoms were not early signs of bipolar disorder; Immature personality disorder not a currently available diagnosis; Bipolar disorder did not manifest in service or relate to service
Evidence weighs against service connection.; November 2016 VA exam found disorder less likely than not related to service.; No persistent symptoms or treatment during service.
Rules that apply to bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2018–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.