BVA9500024 
DOCKET NO.  93-02 841     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in
Chicago, Illinois

THE ISSUE

Whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a
claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to
include post traumatic stress disorder.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESSES AT HEARING ON APPEAL

The veteran and his spouse

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Ripley P. Schoenberger, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active duty from December 1950 to September 1952.

This appeal arises from a May 1992 rating decision by the RO.  In
October 1993 the veteran was afforded a personal hearing before a
traveling member of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board).

REMAND

By a decision of August 1955 the RO denied service connection for
schizophrenia.  No appeal was perfected.  The issue originally
developed and certified for appellate review was entitlement to
service connection for post traumatic stress disorder.  However,
at his personal hearing the veteran stated that the issue was
whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a
claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to
include post traumatic stress disorder.  However, neither the
statement of the case nor the supplemental statements of the case
address this issue.  Moreover, in October 1994, and November
1994, additional evidence was received at the Board, and the
veteran has not waived initial consideration thereof by the RO.
Consequently, additional development is necessary.

To ensure full compliance with due process requirements, the case
is REMANDED to the RO for the following development:

1.  The RO should review the claims folder,
including the recently added medical
records, and adjudicate the issue of
whether new and material evidence has been
submitted to reopen a claim for service
connection for a psychiatric disorder, to
include post-traumatic stress disorder.

2.  If the veteran's application remains
denied, the appellant and representative
should be furnished a supplemental
statement of the case and given the
opportunity to respond thereto.  The
supplemental statement of the case should
contain complete reasons and bases for the
actions taken and complete laws and
regulations governing the reopening of
claims for service connection.

Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board, if in
order.  The Board intimates no opinion as to the ultimate outcome
of this case.  The appellant need take no action unless otherwise
notified.

          BARBARA B. COPELAND
          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) (1993).