BVA9501689 
DOCKET NO.  94-01 980     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Chicago,
Illinois

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric
disorder, to include post-traumatic stress disorder.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States

WITNESS AT HEARINGS ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

James J. Dunphy, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from February 1969 to October
1970.

This appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) arises from
a March 1989 rating decision by the Chicago Illinois Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

REMAND

The veteran has claimed that service connection is warranted for
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  For such a claim to be
granted, it must be shown both that PTSD is currently present and
that the PTSD is a result of a stressor in service.  The evidence
currently before the Board does not allow us to make either
determination, and, hence, additional development would be
required.

Considering first the proper diagnosis for the veteran's
psychiatric illness, the Board notes that there have been
multiple diagnoses.  When the veteran was initially examined for
compensation purposes by the VA in November 1988, the diagnosis
was major depression.  A report of VA hospitalization in August
1988 indicated that the veteran had a dysthymic disorder and PTSD
by history.  PTSD with history of secondary drug and alcohol
abuse was diagnosed subsequent to hospitalization ending in
October 1989.  Additional reports of hospitalization and
outpatient treatment reaching these diagnoses are of record.  In
view of the differing diagnoses, the Board concludes that an
examination is required to resolve the question of what
psychiatric disability is present.  Colvin v. Derwinski, 1
Vet.App. 171 (1991).

Turning then to the issue of whether there is a verifiable
stressor, the Board notes that the veteran provided information
in his hearing before a traveling member of the Board which, if
confirmed, could serve as the basis for the grant of service
connection for PTSD.  The Board further notes the comments of a
VA staff psychiatrist, who noted in a February 1993 letter that
the veteran's "military records have not and are not available to
anyone including the VA.  Therefore, denial of his service
connected disability because he has no military records to
document trauma is spurious....."  We concur.  To adequately
determine if a stressor is present, copies of his service
personnel records must be obtained.  Additionally, it would be
appropriate to refer the veteran's case to the United States Army
and Joint Service Environmental Studies Group (ESG) for
confirmation of the stressors.

Accordingly, the case is remanded to the RO for the following
actions:

1.  Copies of all service personnel records
should be obtained and associated with the
claims folder.  The case should then be
referred to the ESG (7798 Cissna Road,
Springfield VA 22150) for verification of
the stressors reported by the veteran in
his hearing before a traveling member of
the Board.

2.  The veteran should be scheduled for an
examination before a board of two
psychiatrists to determine the nature and
etiology of any psychiatric disorder
present.  The claims folder (to include the
service records and the reply from the ESG)
should be made available to the examiners
prior to the examination to review the
veteran's service history.  All appropriate
studies should be undertaken and the
findings reported in detail.

When the requested development is completed, the RO should review
the case.  If the benefit sought is not granted, the veteran and
his representative should be provided with an appropriate
supplemental statement of the case.  They should also be given a
reasonable period to respond.  The case should then be returned to
the Board for further appellate consideration.

The purposes of this remand are to obtain additional information
and to assist the veteran in the development of his claim.  No
inference should be drawn regarding the merits of the claim, and
no action is required of the veteran until he is notified.

          J. U. JOHNSON
          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).