BVA9500734 
DOCKET NO.  93-07 724     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Louis,
Missouri

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection
for post-traumatic stress disorder.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

REMAND

The veteran had active duty from June 1943 to January 1946, from
October 1946 to October 1949, and from December 1949 to November
1953.

A review of the record reflects that the veteran reported that he
had received VA treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder
prior to the receipt of the claim.  In light of 38 C.F.R.
§ 3.157(b)(1) (1993), the Board believes that additional action
may be warranted.

To ensure that VA has met its duty to assist the appellant in
developing the facts pertinent to the claim, the case is REMANDED
to the regional office (RO) for the following development:

The RO should obtain the names and
addresses of all medical care providers,
including VA providers, who treated the
veteran for post-traumatic stress disorder
prior to April 1992.  After securing the
necessary release, the RO should obtain
these records.

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.

          H. N. SCHWARTZ
          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).