BVA9504439 DOCKET NO. 90-43 213 ) DATE ) ) On appeal from the decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Phoenix, Arizona THE ISSUE Entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). REPRESENTATION Appellant represented by: The American Legion ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Margaret L. Peak, Associate Counsel INTRODUCTION The veteran had active service from January 1965 to December 1967. This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 1989 decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Los Angeles, California. In March 1991, the case was remanded for further development. While the case was in remand status, the veteran's claim for a permanent and total rating for pension purposes was granted while the denial of service connection for PTSD was continued. REMAND The veteran alleges that he has PTSD as a result of his Naval service proximate to the Republic of Vietnam. VA treatment records show that he has been followed for a panic disorder and polysubstance abuse. They do not show a diagnosis of PTSD. However, a diagnosis of PTSD was made on a VA psychiatric examination for compensation purposes in September 1993. The Board also notes that the RO has not requested the service department to attempt to verify the veteran's alleged stressors. In light of these circumstances, the Board concludes that further RO actions are warranted. Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following actions: 1. The RO should contact the veteran and request that he clarify whether he is also seeking service connection for substance abuse and/or dysthymic disorder. He should also be requested to identify the names, addresses, and approximate dates of treatment for all VA and non-VA health care providers who have treated him for any claimed disorder subsequent to service. With any necessary authorization from the veteran, the RO should attempt to obtain copies of pertinent treatment records identified by the veteran which have not been previously secured. 2. The RO should request from the veteran a statement containing as much detail as possible regarding the alleged stressors to which he was exposed during his Vietnam era service. He should be asked to provide specific details of the claimed stressful events during service, such as dates, places, his service units, duty assignments and the names and other identifying information concerning any individuals involved in the events who were killed or injured. He should also be told that he may solicit and submit lay statements from those who served with him and can support his claim. 3. The RO should acquire administrative records of the veteran's period of service. It should also provide copies of the veteran's stressor statement and all pertinent administrative records to the United States Army and Joint Services Environmental Support Group (ESG), 7798 Cissna Road, Springfield, Virginia 22150 for verification of the veteran's alleged stressors. 4. The RO should schedule the veteran for a VA examination by a board of two psychiatrists for the purpose of determining the nature and extent of all psychiatric disorders present. A diagnosis of PTSD should be confirmed or ruled out. If PTSD is diagnosed, the stressor(s) supporting the diagnosis should be identified. If substance abuse is diagnosed, the examiners should provide an opinion as to whether it is a manifestation of PTSD or any other currently present psychiatric disease. All indicated studies should be performed. The claims folder must be made available to and reviewed by the examiners prior to the examination. The rationale for opinions rendered should be explained. 5. After undertaking any additional development deemed appropriate, the RO should readjudicate the issue on appeal and adjudicate any other claims specified by the veteran, to include the issue of entitlement to service connection for substance abuse, if appropriate. If the benefit sought on appeal is not granted to the veteran's satisfaction or if a timely notice of disagreement is received with respect to any other matter, the veteran and his representative should be given a supplemental statement of the case on all issues in appellate status and should also be afforded an opportunity to respond. Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration, if otherwise in order. No action by the veteran or his representative is required until further notice is received. SHANE A. DURKIN 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).