BVA9504943 DOCKET NO. 93-11 747 ) DATE ) ) On appeal from the decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Petersburg, Florida THE ISSUE Entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). REPRESENTATION Appellant represented by: The American Legion ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD K. E. Harrison, Associate Counsel INTRODUCTION The veteran had active military service from March 1964 to January 1968 and from March 1975 to March 1979. This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals on appeal from a September 1992 rating decision by the RO. REMAND The veteran contends he has PTSD as a result of traumatic events which occurred in service. The Board feels that he should be asked to provide detailed information concerning the stressful events to which he claims he was exposed in service. In a February 1991 VA outpatient record it was reported that the veteran was diagnosed with PTSD. A March 1992 VA outpatient treatment report shows a diagnosis of rule out PTSD. A hospital summary from the veteran's hospitalization of February 1993 to March 1993 shows a diagnosis of questionable bipolar illness and mixed personality disorder. The evidence of record raises the question of whether the veteran has PTSD. Therefore, the veteran should undergo a psychiatric examination. If PTSD is found, the specific stressors should be identified and discussed, and the evidence accepted to document the stressor(s) should be stated. In view of the foregoing, the case is REMANDED to the RO for the following action: 1. The RO should take appropriate steps to contact the veteran in order to obtain information concerning all treatment he has received for his psychiatric disorder since service. Copies of all clinical records should be obtained from identified sources. 2. The RO should also take appropriate steps to contact the veteran in order to obtain specific information concerning the claimed stressors in service. The veteran should be asked to provide detailed facts concerning the alleged incidents, including dates and locations, units involved and names of any involved individuals. 3. The RO should take appropriate steps to contact the United States Army and Joint Services Environmental Support Group (ESG) and request corroboration concerning the claimed stressors. Any available narrative unit histories detailing actual operations performed by his unit should be requested. If the ESG indicates that further information is needed, an effort should be made to obtain clarification from the veteran. 4. The veteran should be referred for an examination for VA by a panel of two psychiatrists (who preferably have not previously examined him) to ascertain the nature of all current psychopathology. The examination should be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the VA Physicians Guide for Disability Evaluation Examinations (IB 11-56, March 1, 1985). If the veteran is found to have PTSD satisfying the diagnostic criteria of Code 309.89 of ( DSM-III-R), the symptoms and other factors which support the diagnosis should be specifically itemized. If coexisting psychopathology is also identified, such pathology should be described in detail. In addition, if PTSD is found, the examiner should be requested to identify the specific stressors that caused the PTSD and specify the evidence relied upon to determine the existence of the stressors. It is imperative that the claims file in this case be made available to the examiners in advance for review prior to examination. 5. When the foregoing development has been completed, the claim should be reviewed by the RO. If the decision remains adverse to the appellant, in whole or in part, a supplemental statement of the case should be prepared and the veteran and his representative should be given a reasonable period of time to reply. Thereafter, the claim should be returned to the Board for further review, if in order. No action is required of the veteran until he receives further notice. The purpose of this Remand is to obtain additional information. The Board does not intimate any factual or legal conclusions as to the outcome ultimately warranted in this appeal. 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) (1994).