BVA9501199 
DOCKET NO.  93-10 960     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in New
York,
New York

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for alcohol abuse secondary
to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

2.  Entitlement to an increased rating for post-traumatic stress
disorder, currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling.

3.  Entitlement to a total rating based on individual
unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

The veteran

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Ripley P. Schoenberger, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active duty from September 1969 to September
1971.

This appeal originally arose from a September 1991 rating
decision by the RO which granted service connection and assigned
a 30 percent rating for PTSD.  Thereafter, in October 1992, the
veteran was assigned a temporary total rating from April 16,
1991, through October 31, 1991, and a 50 percent rating from
November 1, 1991.

At his personal hearing the veteran testified that his service-
connected post-traumatic stress disorder prevented him from
working.  The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) interprets this
statement as raising the issue of entitlement to a total rating
based upon being individually unemployable due to service-
connected disabilities.  Under the guidelines set forth in EF v.
Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 324 (1991), the Board must assume
jurisdiction of the issue.  Thus, the issues for consideration in
this appeal have been expanded as shown on the title page.

REMAND

The veteran was last afforded a psychiatric examination by VA in
May 1991.  However, he was hospitalized at VA facilities from
April to July 1991, August to September 1991, and in September
and October 1991.  In addition, at his personal hearing held in
July 1992, he testified that he saw a VA doctor every Monday, and
went to VA once a month for medication.  Nevertheless, the
veteran's VA outpatient treatment records have not been
associated with the claims folder.

To ensure that the VA has met its duty to assist the claimant in
developing the facts pertinent to the claim and to ensure full
compliance with due process requirements, the case is REMANDED to
the RO for the following development:

1.  The veteran should be furnished an
Application for Increased Compensation
Based on Unemployability (VA Form 21-8940).
When the completed form is received, it
should be associated with the claims
folder.

2.  The RO should take appropriate steps to
secure the veteran's VA outpatient
treatment records.  When the reports are
secured, they should also be associated
with the claims folder.

3.  The RO should take appropriate steps to
obtain from the Social Security
Administration the records pertinent to the
veteran's claim for Social Security
disability benefits, as well as the medical
records relied upon concerning that claim.

4.  The veteran should be scheduled for a
psychiatric examination to determine the
current severity of his service-connected
psychiatric disorder.  Complete
psychological testing and a social and
industrial survey should be accomplished.
The examiner should enter a complete
multiaxial evaluation, including a score on
the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale
on Axis V, as set out in the American
Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
The examiner should explain the
significance of the score in terms of the
veteran's social and industrial impairment.
Based on a review of the entire record, the
examiner also should offer an opinion as to
the medical probability that the veteran's
chronic alcohol abuse is the result of his
service-connected PTSD.  To assist the
examiner, the claims folder should be made
available for review prior to the
examination.

5.  After the development requested above
has been completed to the extent possible,
the RO should again review the record.  If
any benefit sought on appeal remains
denied, the appellant and representative
should be furnished a supplemental
statement of the case and given the
opportunity to respond thereto.

Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board, if in
order.  The Board intimates no opinion as to the ultimate outcome
of this case.  The appellant need take no action unless otherwise
notified.

          STEPHEN L. WILKINS
          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) (1993).