BVA9506438 
DOCKET NO.  93-14 575     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in White River
Junction, Vermont

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased evaluation for post-traumatic stress
disorder, currently rated 30 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Hilary L. Goodman, Counsel
INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from January 1968 to September
1969.

This appeal arises from a December 1992 rating decision which
continued a 30 percent disability evaluation for post-traumatic
stress disorder.

The veteran has raised the issues of service connection for
headaches as secondary to post-traumatic stress disorder and a
total rating for compensation purposes based on individual
unemployability.  These issues are referred to the originating
agency for appropriate action.

REMAND

A copy of a September 1993 decision awarding the veteran Social
Security disability benefits has been received.  While the Board
of Veterans' Appeals (Board) subsequently remanded the veteran's
claim by letter, the originating agency apparently did not have
the opportunity to request the veteran's medical records from the
Social Security Administration or issue a supplemental statement
of the case.  It is herein noted that the veteran, at his hearing
on appeal, indicated that he received treatment at a Veterans
Center and had been in Vocational Rehabilitation.

In view of the foregoing, the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)
finds that the issue should be REMANDED to the originating agency
for the following action:

1.  The originating agency should contact
the Social Security Administration in order
to obtain legible copies of those portions
of the evidentiary record, including
medical records, upon which the grant of
disability benefits was based.  The
documents obtained should be associated
with the veteran's claims file.

2.  The originating agency should request
copies of all of the veteran's VA
outpatient treatment records dated
subsequent to September 1992 and any
inpatient treatment records from the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical
Center, White River Junction, as well as
copies of all of the veteran's treatment
records from the Veterans Center.  The
veteran's Vocational Rehabilitation file
should also be obtained.  All documents
obtained should be associated with the
veteran's claims file.

3.  Following completion of the above
development, the veteran should be
scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination
to determine the severity of the service-
connected post-traumatic stress disorder.
The examination, which should be conducted
by a physician who has not previously
examined the veteran, is to be performed in
accordance with the VA Physician's Guide
for Disability Evaluation Examinations.
All indicated tests, including appropriate
psychological studies, should be conducted.
The claims file must be made available to
and reviewed by the examiner prior to the
evaluation.  Based upon a review of the
record and the examination, the physician
must assign a GAF Score consistent with the
American Psychiatric Association's
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for
Mental Disorders,  and explain what the
assigned score represents.  A legible
report of the examination should be
provided.

4.  When the above development has been
completed the originating agency should
readjudicate the veteran's entitlement to a
rating in excess of 30 percent for post-
traumatic stress disorder.  If the
determination made remains unfavorable to
the veteran, a supplemental statement of
the case which provides a summary of the
evidence received since the statement of
the case should be issued to the veteran
and his representative.  They should be
given the appropriate period of time in
which to respond.

Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board for further
consideration, if in order.  No action is required by the veteran
until he receives further notice.  The purpose of this REMAND is
to obtain clarifying medical information and to afford the
veteran due process.

          E. M. KRENZER
          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 action has been taken in
accordance with the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1994,
Pub. L. No. 103-446, § 303, 108 Stat. 4645, ___ (1994), and 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).