BVA9500573 
DOCKET NO.  93-07 733     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in New York, New
York

THE ISSUE

Whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a
claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD).

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Robert A. Leaf, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from September 1968 to March
1973.  This appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)
stems from a July 1991 rating decision of the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) regional office (RO) determining that new
and material evidence had not been presented to reopen a claim of
service connection for PTSD.

REMAND

Service department records reveal that the veteran had a military
occupation speciality (MOS) of general construction equipment
operator.  He was not awarded any decorations for combat or
valor.  He was granted a discharge for the good of the service in
the face of an impending court martial.  Postservice treatment
records disclose ongoing treatment for alcohol and substance
abuse and an episode of incarceration for armed robbery.  He
related to examiners that he saw combat in Vietnam as a medic and
now has flashbacks, nightmares, sleeplessness and emotional
numbing as a result of Viet Nam experiences.  He expressed a
strong interest in seeking treatment for PTSD and was ultimately
admitted to a PTSD treatment program.  However, the service
records, including pertinent personnel records, the DD214 or
Report of Separation from Active Duty, and service medical
records, do not confirm or support the veteran's claim of a
combat role in Vietnam.

A VA treating physician stated in May 1991 that the veteran has
PTSD and remarked that PTSD was attributable to the veteran's
service as a combat medical corpsman in Viet Nam.  The physician
remarked that he had first begun treating the veteran for
chemical dependence in 1987.  Although the physician noted that
he was familiar with the veteran's history, it is apparent that
he had never had the opportunity to review the veteran's service
records.  There are other diagnoses of PTSD in the record, but it
appears that the examiner's relied solely upon the veteran for
his history of combat.

In view of the foregoing, the case is REMANDED for the following:

1.  The RO should request the veteran to
provide a statement relating as many
details as possible about reputedly
stressful experiences in Viet Nam.
Specific dates, places and names of
individuals involved should be sought.
Specifically, he should be asked to submit
any documentary evidence in his possession
regarding his claimed assignment as a
combat medic while in Viet Nam.
Thereafter, the statement should be
forwarded to the United States Army and
Joint Services Environmental Support Group
(ESG), 7798 Cissna Road, Springfield,
Virginia 22050, for verification of
incidents reported as stressors.

2.  After completion of the above, the
veteran should be examined by a
psychiatrist to determine the nature and
extent of any psychiatric disability now
present.  Complete psychological testing
should be performed.  If PTSD is diagnosed,
the examiner should identify the specific
stressors and symptoms relied upon to
support the diagnosis.  The claims folder,
a copy of this REMAND, and the report from
ESG should be made available to the
examiner for review prior to the
examination.  It is emphasized that the
examiner must consider the veteran's
account of inservice stressors in light of
the service department personnel and other
official records.

The RO should then readjudicate the issue of whether new and
material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for
service connection for PTSD.  If the benefit sought on appeal is
not granted, the appellant and his representative should be
furnished a supplemental statement of the case and provided an
opportunity for response.  The case should then be returned to
the Board for further consideration, if in order.  The purpose of
this REMAND is to obtain additional information and to accord the
appellant due process.  The Board intimates no opinion as to the
final outcome warranted.  No action is required of the appellant
until he receives further notice.

          BRUCE N. KANNEE
          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).