BVA9508241 
DOCKET NO.  93-14 726     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Hartford,
Connecticut

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased evaluation for dysthymic disorder,
currently rated as 30 percent.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

J. W. Loeb, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from July 1971 to April 1983.
This case came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on
appeal from an October 1991 rating decision of the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Hartford,
Connecticut.

REMAND

A review of the claims file reveals that since the most recent VA
psychiatric examination report on file, which was conducted in
August 1991, VA outpatient records showing subsequent treatment
for the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder were
received.  These records reflect that adjustments have been made
to his medication regimen.   Consequently, there is a question as
to the current severity of his dysthymic disorder.

Based on the above, the Board finds that additional development
is required prior to final disposition of this case.  Therefore,
this case is being REMANDED to the RO for the following actions:

1.  The veteran should be permitted to
submit any additional evidence in his
possession that is pertinent to the issue
on appeal.  He should also be requested to
provide the complete names, addresses, and
dates of treatment of any physicians or
facilities that have treated him for his
service-connected dysthymic disorder since
October 1992, which is the date of the most
recent clinical evidence on file.  Any
medical provider identified should be asked
by the RO for copies of the veteran's
clinical records.  Any records obtained
should be associated with the claims
folder.  The veteran should be asked to
sign any necessary consent forms for
release of his private medical records.

2.  The veteran should be given a special
psychiatric examination, in accordance with
the VA Physician's Guide for Disability
Evaluation Examinations, to determine the
current severity of his service-connected
dysthymic disorder.  The claims folder must
be made available to the examiner for
review prior to the examination.  All
necessary tests and studies, including
appropriate psychological studies, should
be conducted, and all findings should be
reported in detail.  The examiner should
obtain a recent employment history from the
veteran, to include any time lost from
employment due to his dysthymic disorder
or, if he has been unemployed, any
unsuccessful attempts to obtain employment.
The examiner should also provide an opinion
of the extent to which the veteran's
dysthymic disorder interferes with his
ability to establish and maintain
relationships as well as the reduction in
initiative, efficiency, flexibility and
reliability levels due to his dysthymic
disorder.  In this regard, the terms mild,
definite, considerable, severe and total
are the preferred descriptive adjectives.
A complete rationale for any opinion
expressed must be provided.

3.  The RO should then readjudicate the
issue on appeal, to include consideration
of the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 5107(b)
(West 1991), 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.321(b)(1),
4.130 and 4.7 (1994), and the decisions of
the United States Court of Veterans Appeals
in Hood v. Brown, 4 Vet.App. 301 (1993), as
subsequently interpreted by O.G.C. Prec. 9-
93 (Nov. 9, 1993), and Massey v. Brown, 7
Vet.App. 204 (1994).

When the above actions have been completed, unless the claim is
granted to the satisfaction of the veteran, the veteran and his
representative should be provided with a supplemental statement
of the case and given the applicable time period to respond.  The
case should then be returned to the Board, if otherwise in order.
The veteran need take no action until notified.

          THOMAS J. DANNAHER
          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 action has been taken in
accordance with the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1994,
Pub. L. No. 103-446, § 303, 108 Stat. 4645, ___ (1994), and 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).