BVA9507450 
DOCKET NO.  92-07 339     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Jackson,
Mississippi

THE ISSUE

Whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a
claim of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

B. P. Gallagher

INTRODUCTION

The appellant had honorable active service from September 1969 to
January 1978.  He also had a period of service from September
1979 to March 1985 and received an other than honorable
discharge.

A decision by the Board of Veterans' Appeals (the Board) in May
1989 denied service connection for post-traumatic stress
disorder.

This appeal arises as a result of a rating decision by the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Jackson, Mississippi,
Regional Office (RO) in December 1990 which denied the veteran's
attempt to reopen his claim for post-traumatic stress disorder.

This case was remanded by the Board for further development in
June 1993 and returned to the Board in November 1994.

REMAND

As noted, this case has been remanded on one occasion by the
Board.  The requested development was, in large part,
accomplished.  The record does not show, currently, that the
veteran was engaged in combat.

In response to specific information about stressors, however, he
did report knowing that a close friend was in a body bag when he
(the veteran) was assigned to the personal services division.  It
appears, although it is not clear, that the veteran gave that
individual's name as "Bro." Mack.  That was what the others in
the outfit reportedly called him.  It does appear, from
examination of the VIETNAM MEMORIAL DIRECTORY OF NAMES that a
Calvin David Mack, of the U.S. Army died in December 1970.  The
veteran reportedly was in Vietnam at that time.  It should be
determined whether "Bro." Mack was in fact the friend of the
veteran's killed and in the body bag in the incident reported.
If so, a determination should be made in Calvin David Mack, or
some other Mack was a casualty in the veteran's unit at the time.
The RO and the veteran are referred to the April 1994 letter from
the U.S. Army and Joint Environmental Support Group (ESG) in
regard to alternative information and locations from which
information may be received.  At the time of the first request
for information, it does not appear that the ESG was given the
name.  (As noted, it is not clear that this is the individual to
whom the veteran refers.)

In view of the fact the case is otherwise to be developed, the
Board would like the copies of the clinical records from the VA
hospitalization from December 1986 to January 1987.  Records
requested should include nurses notes progress notes and
psychological examinations conducted during that hospitalization.

In view of the foregoing, this case is REMANDED for the following
actions:

1.  The RO should contact the veteran for
the specific name of the "friend" in the
body bag.  If "Bro." Mack is that
individual, the veteran should be requested
to provide a more specific name, rank or
other information that could be used to
confirm this event.

2.  The RO should take the information
obtained above, and submit it, if
appropriate to the ESG or other
organization for verification.  A
determination should also be made as to
whether Calvin David Mack was in the
veteran's unit while in Vietnam.

3.  The RO should, with the veteran's
assistance as necessary, obtain copies of
records for any treatment for a psychiatric
disorder since the August 1993 VA
hospitalization.  Copies should include the
VA hospitalization in early 1994 in New
Orleans, reported on recent rating action
where reportedly evidence of a psychosis
was found.  Records obtained should also
include the clinical records from the
December 1986 VA hospitalization, to
include nurses notes, progress notes, and
any special psychiatric studies done at
that time.

When the aforementioned development has been accomplished the
case should be reviewed by the RO.  In the event the benefits
sought are not granted, the veteran and his representative should
be provided with a supplemental statement of the case and
afforded a reasonable opportunity to respond thereto.
Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board for further
appellate consideration.  No action is required of the veteran
until he is notified.

The Board intimates no opinion as to the ultimate outcome as a
result of this action.

          MICHAEL D. LYON
          Member, Board of Veterans' Appeals

The Board of Veterans' Appeals Administrative Procedures
Improvement Act, Pub. L. No. 103-271, § 6, 108 Stat. 740, ___
(1994), permits a proceeding instituted before the Board to be
assigned to an individual member of the Board for a
determination.  This proceeding has been assigned to an
individual member of the Board.

Under 38 U.S.C.A. § 7252 (West 1991), only a decision of the
Board of Veterans' Appeals is appealable to the United States
Court of Veterans Appeals.  This remand is in the nature of a
preliminary order and does not constitute a decision of the Board
on the merits of your appeal.  38 C.F.R. § 20.1100(b) (1994).