BVA9502256 
DOCKET NO.  93-07 960     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from a decision by the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Sioux Falls,
South Dakota

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased rating for post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Keith W. Allen,  Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from December 1942 to January
1946 and from July 1950 to August 1953.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)
on appeal from a May 1991 decision by the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Paul, Minnesota, which
granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 30 percent
rating.  The veteran has challenged the rating assigned.

Review of the file reveals that the veteran's wife has indicated
that he has not been able to work "due to his depression (PTSD)."
This statement raises the issue of entitlement to a total
disability rating for compensation or the question of pension.
Neither issue has been developed for appeal.  They are referred
to RO for appropriate action.

REMAND

In his February 1993 statement, the veteran's representative
argued that the RO should have considered recognizing a claim for
secondary service connection for major depression because the
veteran was found to manifest that disability due to his combat
experiences.  The symptoms of major depression may affect the
rating assigned, particularly since the Global Assessment of
Functioning Scores of 75 down to 50 suggests that a deterioration
of his mental condition has occurred and that a higher rating
should be assigned.  The ultimate rating assigned cannot be
determined by the Board until the "inextricably intertwined"
issue of depression has been adjudicated and developed for
appeal.  Adjudicators are reminded that they may consider only
independent medical evidence to support their findings and not
their own unsubstantiated opinion.  Colvin v. Derwinski, 1
Vet.App. 171 (1991).

Hence, the case is REMANDED to the RO for the following actions:

1.  The RO should schedule the veteran for
a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination.
This study must be conducted in accordance
with the VA Physician's Guide for
Disability Evaluation Examinations.  All
indicated tests, including appropriate
psychological studies with applicable
subscales, must be conducted.  The claims
file must be made available to and reviewed
by the examiner prior to the requested
study.  The examiner must assign a Global
Assessment Functioning Score consistent
with the American Psychiatric Association's
DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL FOR
MENTAL DISORDERS (3d ed. rev., 1987), and
explain what the assigned score represents.
A complete rationale for any opinion
expressed must be provided.

2.  The RO should adjudicate the question
of secondary service connection for major
depression due to PTSD.

3.  Following completion of the foregoing,
the RO must review the claims folder and
ensure that all of the foregoing
development actions have been completed in
full.  If any development is incomplete,
including if the requested examination does
not include all test reports, special
studies or opinions requested, appropriate
corrective action is to be implemented.

If the veteran is dissatisfied with the RO's decision, he and his
representative should be issued a supplemental statement of the
case and be given an opportunity to respond.  Thereafter, the
case should be returned to the Board for further appellate
review.

          M. CHEEK
          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).