BVA9501435 DOCKET NO. 93-12 802 ) DATE ) ) On appeal from the decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Atlanta, Georgia THE ISSUE Entitlement to an increased evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder, currently rated 30 percent disabling. REPRESENTATION Appellant represented by: Georgia Department of Veterans Service WITNESSES AT HEARING ON APPEAL Appellant and spouse ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Hilary L. Goodman, Counsel REMAND The veteran had active service from June 1970 to January 1972. This appeal arises from a January 1991 rating decision which continued a 10 percent disability evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder. An August 1992 rating decision increased the disability evaluation to 30 percent. The veteran, at his hearing on appeal, testified that his post- traumatic stress disorder had worsened with nightmares almost every night for the past two years. He related that he would go into a rage at the slightest annoyance. The report of an October 1990 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) psychiatric examination provided limited findings relative to the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder. The examiner did not provide a Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Score or otherwise indicate the degree to which the psychiatric disorder results in reduction in initiative, flexibility, efficiency and reliability levels. The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) also notes that a social and industrial survey has not been undertaken in order to determine the veteran's current social and industrial adaptability. In view of the foregoing, the Board finds that the issue should be REMANDED to the originating agency for the following action: 1. The originating agency should request copies of all of the veteran's outpatient treatment records dated subsequent to April 1992 as well as all inpatient treatment records dated subsequent to July 1991 from the VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia. All records obtained should be associated with the veteran's claims file. 2. A VA social and industrial survey should be conducted in order to clarify the veteran's medical, social, educational, and employment history. The social worker should elicit and set forth pertinent facts regarding the veteran's medical history, education, employment history, social adjustment, and current behavior and health. The social worker should offer an assessment of the veteran's current functioning and identify the conditions which limit his employment opportunities. Any potential employment opportunities should be identified. The claims file must be made available to the social worker in conjunction with the survey. 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 should 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 complete rationale for any opinion expressed must be provided. 4. When the above development has been completed the originating agency should review the veteran's claim. The rating should reflect consideration of the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b)(1). 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 August 1992 supplemental 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. GARY L. GICK 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) (1993).