BVA9506501 DOCKET NO. 93-15 989 ) DATE ) ) On appeal from the decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg, Florida THE ISSUES 1. Entitlement to service connection for low back syndrome with scoliosis. 2. Entitlement to service connection for cervical dysplasia. 3. Entitlement to an increased evaluation for bipolar disorder, currently rated as 10 percent disabling. REPRESENTATION Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD J. W. Loeb, Counsel INTRODUCTION The veteran served on active duty from September 1976 to September 1980 and from November 1982 to October 1991. This case came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 1992 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Petersburg, Florida. REMAND According to a June 1993 statement on behalf of the veteran, she has been receiving VA outpatient treatment for her service- connected psychiatric disorder at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Pensacola, Florida. However, the Board notes that no recent outpatient records are on file. There is also evidence on file that the veteran is receiving Social Security disability benefits, although the decision awarding benefits and the evidence upon which it was based are not on file. Finally, the Board notes that although cervical dysplasia was found in service, but not on pelvic examination in July 1991, the veteran has not been examined for cervical dysplasia since discharge. 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 that is pertinent to the issues on appeal. She should be requested to provide the names, addresses, and dates of treatment of any physicians or facilities, including the VA, that have treated her for a back disorder, cervical dysplasia, or a psychiatric disorder since service discharge in October 1991. Any medical provider identified should be asked for copies of the veteran's clinical records not currently on file. 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 RO should obtain, and associate with the claims file, the veteran's outpatient records from the VA Clinic in Pensacola, Florida. 3. The RO should contact the Division of Benefit Services, Office of Disability Operations, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland 21241, and request copies of the veteran's disability award decision and the complete records upon which the Social Security Administration based its determination of disability. All records obtained as a result of the above should be added to the veteran's claims file. 4. The veteran should be given a special gynecological examination by a board certified gynecologist, if available, to determine whether she has cervical dysplasia. All necessary tests and studies, including a pap smear, should be conducted, and all findings should be reported in detail. The claims folder must be made available to the examiner for review before examination of the veteran. If cervical dysplasia is present, the examiner should be asked to provide an opinion as to the degree of probability, if any, that the disorder is related to pertinent findings during service. 5. A special psychiatric examination of the veteran should be obtained in accordance with the VA Physician's Guide for Disability Evaluation Examinations, to determine the severity of her service- connected bipolar disorder. The examiner should obtain a work history from the veteran since service discharge, to include any full or part-time work, the name of the employer, the type of work, and the hours worked per week, as well as any attempts to obtain employment if she is not working. All necessary tests and studies should be conducted, and all findings should be reported in detail. The examiner should also assign a Global Assessment of Functioning Score to the veteran's service- connected bipolar disorder and provide a description of what the score represents. The complete rationale for any opinion expressed must be provided. The claims folder must be made available to the examiner for review in connection with the examination. 6. After the above, the RO should then undertake any other indicated development. Thereafter, the RO should readjudicate the issues on appeal. With respect to the issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bipolar disorder, the RO should consider the applicability of 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.321(b)(1), 4.7, 4.129, 4.130 (1994). When the above actions have been completed, unless the benefits sought are granted to the satisfaction of the veteran, the veteran and her 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. CHARLES E. HOGEBOOM 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).