BVA9504128 
DOCKET NO.  93-10 488     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Mark D. Hindin, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from November 1954 to September
1958.

This appeal arises from an October 1990 rating decision in which
the regional office (RO) denied entitlement to service connection
for a psychiatric disability.

REMAND

Service medical records show that the veteran was hospitalized
during a period of active duty for training in December 1962 and
January 1963.  An initial diagnosis of schizophrenic reaction was
reported.  On discharge from hospitalization, the diagnosis was
schizoid personality.  Also, the veteran's period of active duty
for training in December 1962 and January 1963 has not been
verified.

Available post-service medical records do not contain reports of
a personality disorder but do contain diagnoses of manic
depressive or bipolar disorder.

In his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability
the veteran reported that he had been treated for manic
depressive illness in the Wareham Clinic, Flint, Michigan.  In
August 1991 the veteran was seen at a mental health clinic after
he had reportedly been referred from Lee Hospital, Johnstown,
Pennsylvania.  At the hearing on appeal in July 1992, the veteran
reported additional treatment beginning in the 1970s.  The
records of this treatment are not part of the claims folder.

In view of the foregoing, it is necessary to REMAND this case for
the following:

1.  The veteran's period of active duty for
training in 1962 and 1963 should be
verified.

2.  The RO should contact the veteran and
request that he furnish information as to
any treatment he has received since January
1963, for a psychiatric disability.  The RO
should then take all necessary steps to
obtain those records, including records
from the Wareham Clinic, Flint, Michigan,
and Lee Hospital, Johnstown, Pennsylvania,
and associate them with the claims folder.

3.  The RO should then schedule the veteran
for a comprehensive VA psychiatric
examination.  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 must be made available to and reviewed
by the examiner prior to the requested
study.  The examiner should express an
opinion as to the relationship between any
psychiatric condition identified on the
examination and the psychiatric
symptomatology reported during active duty
for training.  A complete rationale for any
opinion expressed must be provided.

4.  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 implemented.

If after completion of the requested development the benefit
sought has not been granted, the veteran and his representative
should be furnished with a supplemental statement of the case,
and be given a reasonable opportunity to respond.  Thereafter,
following compliance with all other procedures relative to the
processing of appeals, the case should be returned to the Board
for further appellate consideration of any issue for which a
valid substantive appeal has been submitted.  No action is
required of the veteran until he receives further notice.

          LAWRENCE M. SULLIVAN
          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).