BVA9500221 
DOCKET NO.  93-10 518     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Cleveland, Ohio

THE ISSUE

1.  Entitlement to an increased evaluation for post-traumatic
stress disorder, currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling.

2.  Entitlement to a total rating for compensation purposes
pursuant to                   38 C.F.R. § 4.16.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: AMVETS

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Robert P. Regan, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The appellant served on active duty from November 1967 to July
1969.

This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on
appeal of a December 1991 rating determination by the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) located in
Cleveland, Ohio.

The appellant, in his substantive appeal, has raised the issue of
entitlement to a total rating for compensation purposes based
upon individual unemployability.  This issue, as set forth in the
title page of this remand, is included in the issue of
entitlement to an increased evaluation for post-traumatic stress
disorder, and is properly before the Board for appellate
consideration at this time.

REMAND

During the most recent VA psychiatric evaluation in July 1992,
the appellant indicated that he had been awarded Social Security
disability benefits by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
The Board is of the opinion that the SSA decision and the
evidence upon which that decision was predicated is pertinent to
the appellant's claim.  While the case was pending before the
Board, the appellant submitted private medical records which the
RO has not had the opportunity to review.  The Board is of the
opinion that a contemporaneous and thorough VA examination would
be of assistance in entering a determination in this case.

In accordance with the statutory duty to assist the appellant in
the development of evidence pertinent to his claim, the case is
REMANDED for the following actions:

          1.  The RO should furnish the appellant the
appropriate release of information forms in
order to obtain copies of any private
medical records pertaining to treatment for
his psychiatric illness subsequent to May
22, 1992.  The RO should take the
appropriate action in order to obtain copies
of the SSA decision awarding disability
benefits and the evidence on which that
decision was based.

          2.  The RO should obtain copies of the
medical records from the VA facility located
in Brecksville, Ohio, covering the period
from June 11, 1992, up to the present.

          3.  VA psychiatric and psychological
evaluations should be performed in order to
determine the nature and severity of the
appellant's psychiatric illness.  It is
requested that the examiner conduct a
thorough review of the appellant's
adjudications claim folder, prior to
rendering a diagnosis.  It is further
requested that the psychiatric examiner, to
the extent possible, identify the symptoms
and manifestations attributed to
post-traumatic stress disorder versus any
other psychiatric illness found during the
examination.

Thereafter, the case should be reviewed by the RO.  This review
should include consideration of the applicability of 38 C.F.R.
§ 4.16 (1993).  If the benefit sought is not granted, the
appellant and his representative should be furnished a
supplemental statement of the case, to include 38 C.F.R. § 4.16,
and an opportunity to respond.  The case should then be returned
to the Board for further appellate consideration.

          ALBERT D. TUTERA
          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).