BVA9503278 DOCKET NO. 93-07 342 ) DATE ) ) On appeal from the decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Cleveland, Ohio THE ISSUES 1. Entitlement to service connection for hypertension, hearing loss, and a fungal infection of the feet. 2. Entitlement to an increased rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling. 3. Entitlement to an increased (compensable) rating for tinea cruris. REPRESENTATION Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Richard F. Williams, Counsel INTRODUCTION The veteran served on active duty from May 1968 to July 1970. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Cleveland, Ohio, Regional Office (RO), which denied service connection for hypertension, hearing loss, and a fungal infection of the feet; and which denied increased ratings for service- connected PTSD (rated 30 percent) and tinea cruris (rated noncompensable). REMAND The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and tinea cruris, and for service connection for a fungal infection of the feet, are well-grounded, meaning they are not inherently implausible, and a review of the file reveals there is a further duty to assist him in developing facts pertinent to these claims. 38 U.S.C.A. § 5107(a) (West 1991); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.103, 3.159 (1993). In reviewing the record, I note that psychiatric and medical examinations in 1991 were the most recent evaluations performed for the purpose of evaluating the veteran's tinea cruris and PTSD. In view of the fact that the last compensation examinations are over three years old, and there are allegations of increased impairment, current examination is warranted. Littke v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 90, 92-93 (1991); Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 121, 123-124 (1991); Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet.App. 377, 381 (1994). With regard to service connection for a fungal infection of the feet, examination is indicated to determine whether the condition is related to the service- connected fungal infection of the groin (tinea cruris). Moore v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 401, 405 (1991). Further review of the record shows that the veteran has been evaluated and treated by a private physician and at a VA medical center (VAMC) in recent years for some of the disabilities at issue. There may be additional clinical records available which are relevant to this appeal. The statutory duty to assist him includes the obligation to obtain ongoing treatment records while a claim is pending. Murincsak v. Derwinski, 2 Vet.App. 363 (1992). Hence, this case is REMANDED to the RO for the following actions: 1. The RO should ask the veteran, with the assistance of his representative, to prepare a detailed list of all sources (VA or non-VA) of examination and treatment for his PTSD, tinea cruris, and a fungal infection of the feet since 1991. Names and addresses of medical providers, and dates of examination and treatment, should be listed. After obtaining any needed release forms from him, the RO should directly contact the medical providers and obtain copies of the records. 38 C.F.R. § 3.159. 2. After all records are added to the file, the RO should have the veteran undergo a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination for the purpose of determining the current severity of his PTSD. This study must be conducted in accordance with the VA Physician's Guide for Disability Evaluation Examinations. All indicated tests, including appropriate psychological studies, should be conducted. A detailed work, school, and social history should be obtained. The claims file must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner prior to the requested study. The examiner should assign a Global Assessment of Functioning Score consistent with the American Psychiatric Association's DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL FOR MENTAL DISORDERS (3rd ed. rev., 1987) and explain what the assigned score represents. A complete rationale for the opinion on the degree of social and industrial impairment from PTSD should be provided. 3. The veteran should also undergo a VA dermatological examination for the purpose of determining the current severity of his service-connected tinea cruris and the etiology and extent of any skin disorder of the feet. The examiner should provide a complete description of all skin lesions, including the extent of the areas involved and whether there is any exfoliation, exudation or itching present. Any indicated tests should be accomplished. The claims file must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner prior to the evaluation. Following examination and review of the historical records, the dermatologist should offer an opinion on whether or not the veteran's service- connected fungal infection of the groin (tinea cruris) is etiologically related to the fungal infection of the feet for which service connection is claimed. Are they the same disease or otherwise medically related? 4. Thereafter, the RO should review the claims for increased ratings for PTSD and tinea cruris, as well as the claim for service connection for a fungal infection of the feet. Thereafter, if any claim is denied, the veteran and his representative should be issued a supplemental statement of the case and given an opportunity to respond. Then the case should be returned to the Board. L. W. TOBIN 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).