BVA9500463 
DOCKET NO.  93-12 539     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for the residuals of
frostbite.

2.  Entitlement to a 100 percent scheduler evaluation for
psychogenic amnesia with major depression and headaches,
residuals of a head injury, currently evaluated as 50 percent
disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Joseph M. Horrigan, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from December 1988 to December
1990.

This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)
from a November 1991 rating action of the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Regional Office in Winston-Salem, South Carolina.
The case is before the Board for appellate consideration at this
time.

REMAND

A review of the record reveals that the veteran has received
vocational rehabilitation training from the VA but his vocational
rehabilitation records are not associated with the claims folder.
The veteran received a VA psychiatric examination in May 1992 but
it appears that the examiner on that occasion did not review the
veteran's claims folder.  Moreover, the record indicates
considerable treatment for psychiatric symptoms subsequent to
this evaluation although no clinical records subsequent to
December 1992 are in the claims folder.

In view of the foregoing, and given the duty to assist the
veteran in the development of his claim under the provisions of
38 U.S.C.A. 5107(a) (West 1991), this case is REMANDED to the RO
for the following action:

1.  The veteran's vocational
rehabilitation folder should be obtained
and associated with the claims folder.

2.  After obtaining any necessary
authorization from the veteran, the RO
should contact the Edgecombe-Nash Mental
Health Service at 300 N. Main Street in
Tarboro, North Carolina 27886, and request
copies of all clinical records reflecting
the veterans treatment subsequent to
December 9, 1992.  All records obtained
should be associated with the claims
folder.

3.  Thereafter, the veteran should be
accorded a VA neuropsychiatric examination
to determine the current severity of his
service connected psychiatric disorder.
All necessary special studies, to include
complete neuropsychological testing,
should be conducted and all pertinent
clinical findings reported in detail.  The
claims folder must be made available to
the examiner prior to the evaluation so
that the clinical record may be reviewed
in detail.  Based upon a review of the
record and the examination, the physician
should provided a Global Assessment of
Functioning (GAF) Score indicated the
level of impairment produced by the
service-connected psychogenic amnesia with
major depression and headaches, residuals
of a head injury.  It is imperative that
the examiner also provide a definition of
the GAF score.

When the above development has been completed, the RO again
adjudicate the issue of an increased evaluation for a psychiatric
disability.  If the benefit sought is not granted to the
veteran's satisfaction, he and his representative should be
provided a supplemental statement of the case and afforded a
reasonable opportunity to respond.

Thereafter the case should be returned to the Board for further
consideration, if otherwise warranted.  No action is required of
the veteran until he is so informed by the RO.  The purpose of
this REMAND is to obtain additional, clarifying, clinical
evidence.  By this REMAND the Board intimates no opinion as to
the outcome warranted in this appeal.

          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).