BVA9508312 
DOCKET NO.  93-14 944     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased evaluation for generalized anxiety
disorder, currently rated as 70 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESSES AT HEARING ON APPEAL

The veteran and his friend

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

W. H. Wetmore, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from November 1942 to July
1946.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) received this case on
appeal from a September 1991 RO rating decision.

REMAND

The VA examination reports in August 1991 and November 1992 do
not include full multiaxial diagnoses.  The Board is of the
opinion that competent evidence is required in this case to
determine the current severity of the service-connected
psychiatric disorder.  Accordingly, this case is REMANDED for the
following:

1.  Copies of the veteran's VA treatment
records since May 1993 should be obtained
and associated with the claims file.

2.  The veteran should be examined for VA
by a panel of two psychiatrists to
determine the current severity of the
service-connected mental disease.  The
examiners should enter a complete
multiaxial diagnosis, including a score on
the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale.
The examiners should specifically comment
on the import of that score in terms of the
veteran's occupational functioning.  The
claims folder should be made available to
the examiners for review.  All indicated
testing should be done.

3.  The RO should take adjudicatory action
based on the evidence obtained pursuant to
the development sought above.  If the
benefit sought by the veteran is not
granted, a supplemental statement of the
case should be prepared.

After the veteran and his representative have been given an
opportunity to respond to the supplemental statement of the case,
the claims folder should be returned to this Board for further
appellate review, if in order.  No action is required by the
veteran until he receives further notice.  The purpose of the
remand is to procure clarifying data and to comply with governing
adjudicative procedures.  The Board intimates no opinion, either
legal or factual, as to the ultimate disposition of this appeal.

          STEPHEN L. WILKINS
          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).