BVA9508173 
DOCKET NO.  93-08 210     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in No. Little
Rock, Arkansas

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder
to include post-traumatic stress disorder.

2.  Whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen
a claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

D. B. Weiss, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active duty from March 1972 to March 1974.

A March 1986 Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) decision denied
service connection for diabetes mellitus.

At his personal hearing in October 1992, the veteran testified
that he was first told he was a borderline diabetic at Jefferson
Barracks VA Medical Center in St. Louis County in 1974.
(transcript of hearing at page 1 or t. 1.)  It is noted that in
August 1984, in his original claim, he stated that he was treated
for diabetes at Jefferson Barracks VA treatment from January to
April 1976, from December 1976 to February 1977, and in August
1983.  VA treatment records for these dates at this location have
not been sought.  The veteran also testified that about 2 weeks
after discharge, he was told at Firmin Desloge Hospital that he
had sugar in his urine.  (t. 1.)  Records dated in April 1974 of
the Firmin Desloge Hospital of the St. Louis University Hospitals
have been received; however, the only records requested were
laboratory information including urinalysis information.

The veteran has provided statements indicating that he believes
he has post-traumatic stress disorder in part as a result of the
stressor of his brother being killed in Vietnam.  However, at a
September 1990 VA psychiatric examination, he gave a pertinent
history of having seen a psychiatrist as a child after his only
brother was killed in Vietnam.

A review of the claims folder reflects that the veteran's
entrance and discharge under Chapter 13 physical examinations are
on file.  There are no clinical service medical records.

To ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has met
its duty to assist the claimant in developing the facts pertinent
to the claims and to ensure full compliance with due process
requirements, the case is REMANDED to the regional office (RO)
for the following development:

1.  The RO should obtain the names and
addresses of all medical care providers who
treated the veteran for a psychiatric
disorder prior to service.  After securing
the necessary release(s), the RO should
also obtain these records and associate
them with the claims folder.

2.  The RO should also obtain the complete
pertinent records of the Firmin Desloge
Hospital in 1974.  These records should be
associated with the claims folder.

3.  The RO should request that service
department obtain any service clinical
records for the veteran.  In addition, the
service department should provide copies of
any records pertaining to the veteran's
discharge under Chapter 13.  Any associated
medical records should be obtained.

4.  The RO should obtain and associate with
the claims folder the pertinent records of
treatment at the VA Jefferson Barracks
facility in 1974, from January to April
1976, from December 1976 to February 1977,
and in August 1983.

5.  After the development requested above
has been completed to the extent possible,
the RO should again review the record.  If
any benefit sought on appeal, for which a
notice of disagreement has been filed,
remains denied, the appellant and
representative should be furnished a
supplemental statement of the case and
given the opportunity to respond thereto.

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 until otherwise
notified.

          V. L. JORDAN
          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).