BVA9507503 
DOCKET NO.  93-12 811     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Detroit,
Michigan

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased rating for manic depressive disorder,
currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESSES AT HEARING ON APPEAL

 Veteran and veteran's father.

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

J. Sherman, Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active service from March 1967 to August 1974.
This appeal arises from an April 1991 rating decision of the
Detroit, Michigan, regional office (RO) that denied an increased
rating for the veteran's service connected bipolar disorder.
Following a hearing, the veteran's disability rating was raised
to 50 percent.

The VA has a duty to assist the veteran in the development of
facts pertaining to his claim.  38 U.S.C.A. § 5107(a) (West
1991); 38 C.F.R. § 3.103(a) (1993).  The United States Court of
Veterans Appeals (Court) has held that the duty to assist
includes obtaining available records which are relevant to the
claimant's appeal.  The duty to assist is neither optional nor
discretionary.  Littke v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 90 (1990).

There is an indication in the veteran's treatment notes dated
July 1991 to the effect that the veteran has been awarded social
security disability.  There is no indication that the RO has
requested from the Social Security Administration the records
relating to that award.

The duty to assist also includes, when appropriate, the duty to
conduct a thorough and contemporaneous examination of the veteran
that takes into account the records of prior medical treatment.
Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 121 (1991).  This is to ensure
that the evaluation of a disability is a fully informed one.
Since the veteran was last examined for rating purposes in l991,
a current examination is needed to fully evaluate his claim.

To ensure that VA has met its duty to assist the appellant in
developing the facts pertinent to the claim, the case is REMANDED
to the regional office (RO) for the following development:

1.  An up-to-date employment statement
should be obtained from the veteran.  The
veteran should also be asked for the name
and address of the post office where he was
employed in the past.  This employer should
be contacted and asked to indicate the
dates of employment, whether any special
accomodations were made for the veteran
based on disability, and the reason the
veteran's employment was terminated.

2.  The RO should obtain from the Social
Security Administration the records
pertinent to the appellant's claim for
Social Security disability benefits as well
as the medical records relied upon
concerning that claim.

3.  The RO should contact the veteran and
obtain the names and addresses of all
health care providers where he has received
treatment for his psychiatric disability
since 1992.  Legible copies of all records,
to include those from the VAMC, Allen Park,
should be obtained and associated with the
claims folder.

4.  The RO should schedule the veteran for
a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination.
The examination 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
folder must be made available to and
reviewed by the examiner prior to the
examination.  The examiner must assign a
Global Assessment of Functioning Score
consistent with the American Psychiatric
Association's DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL
MANUAL FOR MENTAL DISORDERS (3d ed. rev.,
l987), and explain what the assigned score
represents.  A complete rationale for any
opinion expressed must be provided.

5.  When the above development has been
accomplished, the case should again be
reviewed by the RO.  It must determine if
any development is incomplete, including if
the requested examination does not include
all test reports, special studies or
opinions requested.  Corrective action
should be requested if necessary.  If the
decision remains adverse to the veteran, he
and his representative should be furnished
with a Supplemental Statement of the Case
and reasonable opportunity to respond.

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 unless otherwise
notified.

          I. S. SHERMAN
          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).