BVA9507901 
DOCKET NO.  92-24 949     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Portland,
Oregon

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for bruxism.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Oregon Department of Veterans'
Affairs

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Heather J. Harner, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active duty from December 1963 to December 1966.
The veteran asserts he has developed bruxism as a result of his
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  He claims he experiences
so much stress because of PTSD that he grinds his teeth.  During
a March 1994 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) psychiatric
examination and a March 1994 VA social and industrial survey, he
reported that he grinds his teeth during his frequent nightmares
and that he broke at least one tooth in this manner.  Following a
VA dental examination in February 1992, the examining dentist
recorded that bruxism was evident upon examination but was unable
to identify the cause of such bruxism.  Other than the veteran's
own contentions, no medical relationship between PTSD and bruxism
has been suggested.

To ensure that the VA has met its duty to assist the claimant in
developing the facts pertinent to the claim and to ensure full
compliance with due process requirements, the case is REMANDED to
the regional office (RO) for the following development:

1.        The veteran should be afforded a VA
examination by  appropriate medical
specialist(s) to identify any causal link
between the veteran's  PTSD and bruxism.
The claims folder is to be made available
to the examiner for review before the
examination.  All appropriate tests and
studies should be performed.  The
examiner(s) should specifically present
an opinion regarding whether the
veteran's PTSD partially or wholly caused
his bruxism.

2.        After the development requested above has
been completed, the RO should again
review the record.  If any benefit sought
on appeal, for which a notice of
disagreement has been filed, remains
denied, the appellant and his
representative should be furnished a
supplemental statement of the case and
given the opportunity to respond thereto.

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 until notified.

          JOHN E. ORMOND
          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).