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

[Austin]

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    ---------
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    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
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              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.
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       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

[Gastone]

Any Awards will generate Retro, that sounds good, except for the mention of an SOC. not everything got Awarded.

Is you Direct Deposit Account set up to Txt and Email you regarding ALL financial Transactions, if not, get it taken care of. Retro will hit way before Award/Denial Letter with attached SOC Arrives.

What's the Retro percentage due your Lawyer? How's he getting paid, by you or the VA?

[Austin]

My lawyer is getting paid by me and I will owe him 30 percent of retro. I received one SOC a few minutes ago when the mailman arrived. They filed for 4 disabilities. It only talks about denial for one on the SOC that I received(sleep apnea, sleep disorder-- denied). But one that SOC that is all it renders a decision on.

[jfrei]

7 hours ago, Austin said:

The Regional Office called me a few hours ago and wanted bank information. So... maybe

That’s a good sign usually not a jinx. But if you have a ebenefits account you might also have another claim open stating eligibility claim open up... 

[Austin]

I called the VA hotline last Friday and they said my claim(for bipolar) was at the Regional Office to be rated and that my notification letter hasn't been generated yet so it could be another a little bit before I receive my BBE. I'm thinking with the C and P being around Thanksgiving and them closing the claim on the 12/22 that it still will be a little while. This Monday is a federal holiday. I have been checking my AB8 and doing the ebenefits tricks to try and see if anything has been added in but no luck. I haven't put much faith in Ebenefits though.

[Gastone]

A, VA lawyers can receive from 20 to 30% of Retro without the VA jumping ugly with them. 20% of Retro has and currently seems to be the norm, how did you get locked into the 30%?

How many VA Lawyers did you talk to before assigning your POA?

[Austin]

I don't know how well things went really. I received a SOC on the 22nd. A few pages into the document  it talks about what the disabilities were appealed... It did include the bipolar, and PTSD. However, in the end of the SOC after all the legalese it just says "sleep apnea" denied and gives a short reason. Does this mean all the other disabilities were denied as well? It doesn't have other sections that discuss the bipolar, PTSD... I called the VA Hotline and they were little help. I called my attorney and am waiting. Just confused and really aggravated.