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C & P Exam Results regarding Bipolar and PTSD--Help me understand this!

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Austin

Question

So I had a C & P appointment. I got an attorney a couple years ago after my claim was denied. My claim is for Bipolar, PTSD, and Depression. My attorney sent a NOD a little over 2 years ago and I was scheduled for a C & P appointment. The examiner that I had was the same examiner that I had on the claim I was initially denied on. He basically said "there wasn't anything wrong with me after the service". So I had my C & P appointment and the examiner pulled a note that described me mentioning taking anti-depressants prior to the military. I honestly forgot about this. I have attached the nexus letter which makes a link to the military aggravating my condition. Could someone please explain to me what can happen next? I was initially thinking award. But I'm wondering if they are going to ask for records prior to my military(teenage and young adult)... which I wouldn't be able to produce. I'm kinda freaking out because it seems like the link was made but not in the way I was expecting. 

Attached nexus---

 

 2. Current Diagnoses    -------------------    a. Mental Disorder Diagnosis #1: unspecified bipolar disorder           ICD code: F31.9
    b. Medical diagnoses relevant to the understanding or management of the       Mental Health Disorder (to include TBI): none
    3. Differentiation of symptoms    -----------------------------    a. Does the Veteran have more than one mental disorder diagnosed?       [ ] Yes   [X] No           c. Does the Veteran have a diagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI)?       [ ] Yes   [ ] No   [X] Not shown in records reviewed           4. Occupational and social impairment    ------------------------------------    a. Which of the following best summarizes the Veteran's level of occupational       and social impairment with regards to all mental diagnoses? (Check only       one)       [X] Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas,           such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood    b. For the indicated level of occupational and social impairment, is it       possible to differentiate what portion of the occupational and social       impairment indicated above is caused by each mental disorder?       [ ] Yes   [ ] No   [X] No other mental disorder has been diagnosed           c. If a diagnosis of TBI exists, is it possible to differentiate what portion       of the occupational and social impairment indicated above is caused by the       TBI?       [ ] Yes   [ ] No   [X] No diagnosis of TBI                                          SECTION II:                                   ----------                               Clinical Findings:                               -----------------    1. Evidence Review    -----------------    Evidence reviewed (check all that apply):        [X] VA e-folder (VBMS or Virtual VA)    [X] CPRS
    2. History    ---------
 Page 26 of 139
    a. Relevant Social/Marital/Family history (pre-military, military, and       post-military):          The Veteran has been married for approximately one year; he said lately          their relationship has had problems because he feels his wife has not          understood his problems.              b. Relevant Occupational and Educational history (pre-military, military, and       post-military):          The Veteran said he had had eight jobs in the past year. He completed a          bachelor's degree in psychology at UCA a year ago.              c. Relevant Mental Health history, to include prescribed medications and       family mental health (pre-military, military, and post-military):          The Veteran is followed in mental health at CAVHS. He takes lamictal,          prazosin, and lithium carbonate. He also sees a private counselor.              d. Relevant Legal and Behavioral history (pre-military, military, and       post-military):          n/a              e. Relevant Substance abuse history (pre-military, military, and       post-military):          The Veteran reports drinking every day, having two 30-packs over the          course of a week. His last marijuana use was about two and a half years          ago.              f. Other, if any:          n/a              3. Stressors    -----------    Describe one or more specific stressor event(s) the Veteran considers    traumatic (may be pre-military, military, or post-military):        a. Stressor #1: hearing a soldier getting raped              Does this stressor meet Criterion A (i.e., is it adequate to support          the diagnosis of PTSD)?          [X] Yes  [ ] No                    Is the stressor related to the Veteran's fear of hostile military or          terrorist activity?          [ ] Yes  [X] No                    Is the stressor related to personal assault, e.g. military sexual          trauma?          [X] Yes  [ ] No
 Page 27 of 139
              4. PTSD Diagnostic Criteria    --------------------------    No response provided.
    5. Symptoms    ----------    For VA rating purposes, check all symptoms that actively apply to the    Veteran's diagnoses:           [X] Depressed mood       [X] Anxiety       [X] Disturbances of motivation and mood       [X] Difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social           relationships       [X] Difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or a           worklike setting       [X] Inability to establish and maintain effective relationships       [X] Suicidal ideation
    6. Behavioral Observations    -------------------------    The Veteran was cooperative. He displayed some dysphoria.
    7. Other symptoms    ----------------    Does the Veteran have any other symptoms attributable to PTSD (and other    mental disorders) that are not listed above?       [ ] Yes   [X] No           8. Competency    ------------    Is the Veteran capable of managing his or her financial affairs?       [X] Yes   [ ] No           9. Remarks, (including any testing results) if any    -------------------------------------------------       The Veteran's symptoms appear to be more consistent with a mood disorder       than with those of PTSD. He reported depression while still in the       military, but also reported he had been treated for depression prior to       the military. In today's examination the Veteran denied depression prior       to the military but then conceded it was possible he had been depressed as       a teenage, but could not recall details of his depression or the treatment       he received. However, the same note indicated that in 2007 the Veteran       reported that he had responded well to medication, suggesting that it was       possible that his depression was relatively mild.
 Page 28 of 139
       The Veteran's current bipolar disorder is severe. Therefore, it is more       likely than not that any mood disorder present before the Veteran's       military service was exacerbated by his time in the military.
       Given the Veteran's ability to complete a bachelor's degree, I did not       find evidence that his bipolar disorder precluded all employment; however,       it definitely makes it difficult for him to sustain employment.           NOTE: VA may request additional medical information, including additional    examinations if necessary to complete VA's review of the Veteran's

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Congradulations!

Because of this statement in the C & P exam:

"  The Veteran's current bipolar disorder is severe. Therefore, it is more       likely than not that any mood disorder present before the Veteran's       military service was exacerbated by his time in the military." ...

I believe they will rate you on the extent of "aggravation" of a pre existing condition.

 

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I called the VA hotline to try and verify the status and they said they were sending a Statement of the Case. Can you get an award if a disability even with a SOC? I have filed on multiple disabilities but the Bipolar is what the examiner focused more on. I'm hoping for good news but am so discouraged with the VA rat race.

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