BVA9504463 
DOCKET NO.  93-07 028     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Detroit,
Michigan

THE ISSUE

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

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Vietnam Veterans of America

WITNESS AT HEARINGS ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

E. J. McCafferty, Counsel
INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from June 1968 to May 1970.

This appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) arises from
a November 1991 rating decision by the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Detroit, Michigan.

A hearing on appeal was held at the RO in May 1992, and another
hearing on appeal was conducted before a traveling member of the
Board at the RO in March 1993

This case was certified to the Board on the additional issue of
entitlement to an effective date earlier than September 6, 1990,
for the award of compensation based on service connection for
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  However, this issue has
been subsumed by a favorable reconsideration decision of a
January 1973 Board decision which had denied service connection
for a psychiatric disorder.  Following the reconsideration
decision, the RO granted a 30 percent rating for PTSD by rating
action in January 1995, and the case has been returned to the
Board for further appellate action.  The only issue properly
before the Board at this time is the issue set out on the title
page.

REMAND

From a preliminary review of the record in this case, we note
that the veteran was last examined by the VA in October 1991.
There is also of record a report from a social worker in January
1992, discussing the veteran's psychiatric status at that time.
Submitted at the travel Board hearing in May 1993 was a treatment
summary, dated in December 1992, describing the veteran's recent
treatment and recommend-ing individual psychotherapy.  Also
submitted at that time was a record of the veteran's absences
from his employment from 1990 to 1993.

Based on the foregoing, it is the opinion of the Board that more
current and more extensive evidence with respect to the veteran's
psychiatric status and its effect on his social and industrial
adaptability should be obtained before final appellate review is
undertaken.  Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following
actions:

1.  The RO should determine if the veteran
has entered individual psychotherapy as
suggested in the December 1992 treatment
summary or is undergoing any other periodic
psychiatric treatment.  If he is, then
copies of those records should be obtained
and added to the claims folder

2.  The veteran should be accorded a
comprehensive VA psychiatric examination in
order to determine the present extent of
his service-connected PTSD.  This study
must be conducted in accordance with the VA
Physician's Guide for Disability Evaluation
Examinations.  All indicated tests,
including appropriate psychological studies
with applicable subscales, must be
conducted.  The claims file, to include any
additional records obtained as a result of
the request above, must be made available
to and reviewed by the examiner prior to
the examination.  The examiner must assign
a Global Assessment of Functioning Score
consistent with the American Psychiatric
Association's DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL
FOR MENTAL DISORDERS (3d ed. rev., 1987), and
explain what the assigned score represents.
A complete rationale for any opinion
expressed must be provided.

3.  Following completion of the foregoing,
the RO must review the claims folder and
ensure that all of the foregoing
development actions have been conducted and
completed in full.  If any development is
incomplete, including if the requested
examination does not include all test
reports, special studies or opinions
requested, appropriate corrective action is
to be taken.

When the above actions are accomplished, the case should be
reviewed by the RO.  If the case remains denied, the veteran and
his representative should be furnished a supplemental statement
of the case covering the new evidence.  After they have had an
adequate opportunity to respond, the case should be returned to
the Board for further appellate review, if in order.  The sole
purpose of this REMAND is to obtain clarifying data.

          J. U. JOHNSON
          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).