BVA9502230 
DOCKET NO.  93-10 185     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric
disorder, to include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Sandra L. Smith, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active duty for training from May 1979 to August
1979 and from July 23, 1990 to September 15, 1990, and periods of
inactive duty training from May 1986 to June 1991.  This appeal
is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (the Board) from an
August 1992 rating decision of the Regional Office (RO) which
denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.
The case is now ready for appellate review.

REMAND

The veteran is contending that her psychiatric disorder first
manifested itself following the traumatic event of watching the
sudden death of a friend while on active duty for training in
August 1990.  Following that event, she was treated for a panic
attack at the base clinic and subsequently at a local private
hospital.  In the alternative she alleges that the psychiatric
disorder was aggravated during active duty for training following
the traumatic event.  She also notes that this psychiatric
disorder has been variously diagnosed as PTSD and panic disorder.

A review of the claims folder discloses that the veteran was
never afforded a VA psychiatric examination for compensation
purposes.  The Board believes such an examination is necessary to
clarify the diagnosis and to obtain a medical opinion as to the
probable etiology of the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder
as well as the probability of aggravation of the disorder during
service.

The Board notes that the VA has a duty to assist the veteran in
developing pertinent information relating to her claim pursuant
to 38 U.S.C.A. § 5107(a) (West 1991).  The Court of Veterans
Appeals (the Court) has held that the duty to assist also
includes providing a thorough and contemporaneous medical
examination, which takes into account prior medical evaluations
and treatment.  Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 121 (1991).  The
Court has also held that when the Board concludes the medical
evidence of record is insufficient it may supplement the record
by ordering a medical examination.  Colvin v. Derwinski, 1
Vet.App. 171 (1991).

In light of the above facts and law, the Board has determined
that the case must be REMANDED to the RO for the following
actions:

1.  The RO should obtain and associate with
the claims folder all current private and
VA medical records pertaining to treatment
of the veteran's acquired psychiatric
disorder.

2.  The RO should schedule the veteran for
a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination.
This study 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
file must be made available to and reviewed
by the examiner prior to the requested
study.  In addition, the examiner must
offer an opinion whether or not the
veteran's current psychiatric disorder, if
any, is etiologically related to any
incident which occurred during active duty
for training (July 23, 1990 to September
15, 1990).  If the veteran's psychiatric
disorder is found to have pre-existed her
active duty for training, the examiner must
offer an opinion whether or not the
veteran's current psychiatric disorder
increased in severity as a result of any
incident which occurred during her active
duty for training.

3.  Following completion of the foregoing,
the RO must review the claims folder and
ensure that all of the foregoing
development actions have been conducted and
completed in full.  If any development is
incomplete, including if the requested
examination does not include all test
reports, special studies or opinions
requested, appropriate corrective action is
to be implemented.

If the claim remains denied, the veteran should be issued a
supplemental statement of the case and she should be afforded the
appropriate period of time within which to respond thereto.
Then, if otherwise in order, the case should be returned to the
Board for further appellate consideration.  No action is required
of the veteran until she is notified.

The Board intimates no opinion, either legal or factual, as to
the ultimate disposition warranted in this case, pending
completion of the requested development.

          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) (1993).