BVA9500103 
DOCKET NO.  93-06 861     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Montgomery,
Alabama

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric
disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder, hearing
loss and arthritis of the knees.

2.  Entitlement to an increased (compensable) evaluation for
residuals of malaria.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

R. A. Caffery, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from February 1943 to November
1945.  This is an appeal from 1992 and 1993 rating actions by the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office, Montgomery,
Alabama, which denied entitlement to service connection for a
psychiatric disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder;
which confirmed and continued denials of service connection for
hearing loss and arthritis of the knees; and which confirmed and
continued a noncompensable evaluation for residuals of malaria.

REMAND

The record discloses that, in January 1953, the veteran applied
for VA hospital treatment.  Various psychiatric problems were
reported.  A diagnosis of manic-depressive psychosis was made.
It was indicated that the veteran was medically eligible for VA
treatment; however, service connection for treatment purposes was
denied.  Because he had a low priority, and the VA hospital had a
waiting list, he was treated at Bryce Hospital..

In his July 1992 claim for VA disability benefits, the veteran
indicated that he had been treated at the Bryce Hospital for his
nerves from 1950 to 1953 and had also been treated at the VA
Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, in 1950.  He stated that he had been
treated by Dr. R. William Davis, Post Office Box 609,
Vernon, Alabama, for conditions including his nerves beginning in
about 1960.

The veteran was afforded a VA psychiatric examination in November
1992.  He provided information regarding various traumatic events
that had occurred during service.  Various findings were recorded
on mental status examination.  The examiner indicated that the
veteran might currently have some depressive symptoms and he
might also have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, but
it was difficult to justify the full diagnosis of the latter
condition.  The diagnosis was depression.  It is apparent that
the examiner did not have access to the veteran's claims folder.

The regional office later received a detailed 3 page report by
the Bryce Hospital reflecting the veteran's treatment in March
1953 for psychiatric problems.  It was indicated that he had
received treatment for his nerves from a Dr. Wieley who had been
his physician.  A diagnosis of schizophrenic reaction was made.

On the basis of the present record, and in order to afford the
veteran every consideration, findings of fact and conclusions of
law are being deferred pending a REMAND for the following action:

1.  The VA Medical Center, Tuscaloosa,
should be contacted and asked to provide
copies of any inpatient or outpatient
treatment records reflecting treatment of
the veteran for a psychiatric disorder
during the period from 1950 to 1953.  Any
such records should be associated with the
claims file.

2.  The veteran should be contacted and
asked to provide the full name and address
of Dr. Wieley.  That physician (or his
successor in practice) should be contacted
and asked to provide copies of any records
of treatment of the veteran for a
psychiatric condition during the early
1950's.

3.  The veteran should then be examined by
a psychiatrist experienced in cases
involving post-traumatic stress disorder to
determine the nature and extent of any
psychiatric disability present and whether
symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of
post-traumatic stress disorder are
manifested.  The examiner should
specifically comment on the relationship,
if any, between any condition found and the
condition treated at Bryce Hospital in
1953.  The report of examination should
contain a detailed social, industrial and
military history as well as clinical
findings upon which the diagnosis is based.
It is essential that the claims file be
made available to the examiners for review
prior to the examination.

When the above action has been completed, the case should be
reviewed by the regional office.  If the denial is continued, the
veteran and his representative should be sent a supplemental
statement of the case and be afforded the appropriate time in
which to respond.  Thereafter, the case should be returned to the
Board for further appellate consideration, if otherwise in order.
No action is required of the veteran until he receives further
notice.

The purpose of this REMAND is to obtain clarifying information.
The Board intimates no opinion as to the disposition warranted in
this case pending completion of the requested action.

          ROBERT D. PHILIPP
          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).