BVA9508081 
DOCKET NO.  93-13 611     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg,
Florida

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to an increased rating for post-traumatic stress
disorder, currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for disability involving
the thoracic and cervical spines, to include degenerative disc
disease, arthritis, scoliosis and a bilateral arm disorder.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by:    Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

J. Andrew Ahlberg, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from August 1968 to December
1970.

This case comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals
(hereinafter Board) on appeal from adverse rating action by the
St. Petersburg, Florida, Regional Office (hereinafter RO).

REMAND

The service medical record indicate the veteran sustained a
compression fracture at L1 involving some posterior displacement
after he was involved in a helicopter accident in May 1970.
Treatment included a body cast and the veteran described lumbar
and thoracic back aches during service after this accident.
After service, a VA orthopedic examination conducted in August
1971 showed the veteran describing constant low back pain that
extended up to the mid-portion of his back.  He also described
tightness and cramping in the muscles of the back of his neck.
X-rays of the lumbar and thoracic spines taken at that time were
negative and the assessment was paravertebral myositis of the
upper lumbar area.

An April 1986 VA X-ray report showed minimal scoliosis convex to
the right at the junction of the cervical and thoracic spines;
minimal disc space narrowing and osteophyte formation at C6-C7;
mild scoliosis convex to the right at the junction of the
thoracic and lumbar spines with compensatory upper and mid
thoracic spine changes, and mild hypertrophic changes of multiple
mid and lower thoracic vertebrae.  A VA examination conducted at
that time resulted in diagnoses to include degenerative arthritis
and disc disease of the cervical spine without limitation of
motion.

An October 1992 VA X-ray report showed minimal anterior wedge
deformities of the bodies of T11 and T12 which were felt to
probably be due to old fractures.  The impression was "minimal
old stable changes which may well be due to compression fractures
of the T12-L1 region."  A physical examination conducted at that
time showed some restriction of normal cervical spine lateral
flexion and rotation.  The diagnosis was residuals of compression
fracture of L1 with subsequent myositis by history.

It is unclear whether the VA examiner, in diagnosing "residuals"
of an L1 compression fracture after the October 1992 VA
examination, attributed all the findings from that examination,
including those relating to the thoracic and cervical spines, to
the service-connected L1 compression fracture.  Given this
uncertainty and the proximity of the T11 and T12 wedge
deformities shown by X-ray to the L1 deformity, the Board
concludes that further VA examination is necessary in order to
determine the nature of any current pathology which may be
attributed to the service connected L1 compression fracture.
Further examination is also needed to accurately assess the level
of industrial impairment caused by the veteran's post-traumatic
stress disorder.  Accordingly, this case is REMANDED for the
following development:

1.  The veteran is to be afforded a VA
orthopedic examination, which must include
an opinion by the examiner as to the
etiologic relationship between all current
cervical or thoracic spine pathology and
the L1 compression fracture or in-service
accident which was the cause of this
injury.  The claims file, to include
particularly a review of the clinical
records referenced in the summary of the
relevant clinical evidence contained in the
body of this remand, must be reviewed by
the examiner.

2.  The veteran is to be afforded another
VA psychiatric examination.  After all
indicated testing is completed, the
examiner is to express an opinion as to the
degree to which symptoms solely
attributable to post-traumatic stress
disorder, separate and apart from those
caused by other psychiatric disorders,
reduces the veteran's initiative,
flexibility, efficiency or reliability such
that his ability to work is impaired.
Following completion of the requested development, the RO should
review the evidence and determine whether the veteran's claims
may be granted.  If either claim is denied, the veteran and his
representative should be issued a supplemental statement of the
case, to include citations to the relevant laws and regulations
as needed, and the case should be returned to the Board for
further appellate review.  The purpose of this REMAND is to
assist the veteran in the development of his appeal, and the
Board does not intimate an opinion, either legal or factual, as
to the ultimate disposition warranted in this case.  No action is
required of the veteran until he is notified.

          HOLLY E. MOEHLMANN
          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).