BVA9503880 
DOCKET NO.  91-43 882     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Chicago,
Illinois

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased rating for schizo-affective disorder,
currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Milo H. Hawley, Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active service from October 1981 to March 1982
and from October 1985 to May 1989.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)
on appeal from a June 1991 rating decision by the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office in Chicago, Illinois (RO),
which denied an increase in the 30 percent evaluation then
assigned for the veteran's schizo-affective disorder.

By decision in April 1992, the Board remanded the appeal for
additional development.  A rating decision in November 1992,
increased the evaluation for the veteran's schizo-affective
disorder to 50 percent from May 10, 1991.

It is contended that the veteran's psychiatric disability is more
disabling than currently evaluated.

VA outpatient treatment records indicate that the veteran began
to work part time in 1991 as a janitor.  The report of a May 1992
VA psychiatric examination states that the veteran attended
weekly group therapy and took psychotropic medication twice each
day.  He lived with relatives and was employed.  Of record is a
copy of VA hospital discharge instructions which reflect that the
veteran was hospitalized for approximately two weeks in August
1992.  It indicates that the diagnoses were schizophrenia and
headaches.  Treatment records with respect to that period of
hospitalization have not been associated with the veteran's
claims file.  The United States Court of Veterans Appeals has
indicated that treatment records pertaining to care for service
connected disabilities must be considered.

On the basis of the above, the Board believes that additional
development is required.  Therefore, the case is REMANDED to the
RO for the following:

1.  The RO should contact the veteran and
ask where he has received mental health
care from May 1992 until the present.  The
RO should contact the health care
provider(s) identified, including the VA
facility where the veteran was hospitalized
in August 1992, and request copies of all
medical records relating to the veteran's
mental health care from May 1992 until the
present.

2.  The RO should schedule the veteran for
a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination.
This study should 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 of 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.

After completion of the above requested development, this claim
should be readjudicated by the RO.  If it remains denied, the
veteran and his representative should be furnished with a
supplemental statement of the case and be given an opportunity to
respond thereto.  Thereafter, the claims file, including the
above requested evidence, should be returned to this Board for
further appellate review, if in order.  No action is required by
the veteran until he receives further notice.

The purpose of this REMAND is to procure clarifying data.  The
Board intimates no opinion, either legal or factual, as to the
ultimate disposition of this appeal.

          E. W. SEERY
          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).