BVA9503189 
DOCKET NO.  92-16 019     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Louisville,
Kentucky

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric
disorder.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Martin F. Dunne, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from October 1969 until
November 1970.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)
from rating decisions of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Louisville, Kentucky, Regional Office (RO).

REMAND

Essentially, the veteran contends that she has an acquired
psychiatric condition, diagnosed as severe, recurrent, major
depression, which was first manifest and treated while she was on
active duty.  She claims that she was treated at Wilford Hall
Medical Center and Permanent Party Dispensary at Lackland Air
Force Base, Texas, in 1970 while still on active duty and in 1971
after her separation from active duty.  This case was remanded by
the Board in August 1993 for further development, to include
obtaining copies of these treatment records.

In December 1993, the RO received a reply from Wilford Hall
Medical Center personnel noting that they could not locate any
information concerning the veteran.  Since that time, the veteran
noted that the reason no records were found was because the RO
had requested them under her current married name and not under
her former married name.  She explained that, at the time she
received this treatment, she was married to Air Force Staff
Sergeant David Elliot Brown and was receiving treatment under his
name as his dependent spouse.

Also, the Board, in its earlier remand, requested that the
veteran undergo a psychiatric examination and that her claims
file be made available to the examiner.  The examination was
performed; however, it does not appear from the examination
report that the examiner had an opportunity to review the files.
On the other hand, the examination report reflects that the
veteran and her sister related the veteran's medical history
which was a factor in formulating the examiner's medical opinion.

Pursuant to the Board's duty to assist the veteran in development
of facts pertinent to her claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5107(a) (West
1991); 38 C.F.R. § 3.103(a) (1994), a final decision is being
deferred pending a REMAND for the following action:

1.  The RO is to try again to obtain
copies of the veteran's medical
treatment records from Wilford Hall
Medical Center and Permanent Party
Dispensary, Lackland Air Force Base,
Texas.  Note that, after her
separation from active duty in
November 1970, the veteran obtained
treatment at that medical facility as
a dependent spouse of her active duty
Air Force Staff  Sergeant husband,
under her then-married surname of
Brown.  These records are to be
incorporated with the veteran's claims
file.

2.  Thereafter, the RO is to arrange
for the veteran to undergo a
psychiatric evaluation by a board of
two psychiatrists at a VA medical
facility.  The examiners are to follow
the VA's Physician's Guide for
Disability Evaluation Examinations.
All appropriate tests are to be
performed.  The veteran's claims file,
together with a copy of this remand,
must be provided to and reviewed by
these examiners prior to their
studies.  Upon completion of their
examination, the psychiatrists are to
express an opinion, with complete
rational, as to whether it is at least
as likely as not that any current
psychiatric disorder found is
etiologically related to the
psychiatric symptomatology reported in
service.  The medical report is to be
incorporated with the veteran's claims
file.

3.  Upon completion of the above-
mentioned action, the RO is to
readjudicate the veteran's claim.

If the decision remains unfavorable to the veteran, she and her
representative are to be provided with a supplemental statement
of the case and afforded the appropriate period of time in which
to respond.  Thereafter, in accordance with the current appellate
procedures, the claims file, to include the requested additional
evidence, is to be returned to the Board for further appellate
consideration.

          ALBERT D. TUTERA
          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).