BVA9502449 
DOCKET NO.  92-21 965     )       DATE
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On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St.
Louis, Missouri

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, as
secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

2.  Entitlement to an increased (compensable) evaluation for
peripheral neuropathy.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

W. H. Wetmore, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from July 1988 to October 1991.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) originally received this
case from the RO on appeal from a rating decision in March 1992.
The Board remanded this case in September 1994.

REMAND

The September 1994 Board remand requested that the veteran be
afforded examinations.  This action was not completed because he
did not appear for the examinations; however, the representative
has noted that the notification of the examinations was not sent
to the veteran's current address.  The current address was of
record in August 1993; therefore, the Board believes that he
should be offered another opportunity to comply with the
examinations requested by the Board in September 1994.

To recapitulate, the veteran contends that he has compensably
disabling peripheral neuropathy and an eye disorder related to
his service-connected diabetes mellitus.  He reports that he is
experiencing numbness of the feet and hands and blurring of
vision due to his diabetes mellitus.  The Board finds that
additional examinations are indicated.

Accordingly, this case is REMANDED to the RO for the following:

1.  The veteran should be scheduled for a
VA examination by a neurologist to
determine the extent of his peripheral
neuropathy related to his diabetes
mellitus.  All indicated studies should be
performed.  The examiner should provide a
detailed report of all clinical findings
and describe in full the severity of any
related neurological deficit.

2.  The veteran should be scheduled for a
VA examination by an ophthalmologist to
determine the nature of any ocular
abnormality that may be attributable to the
service-connected diabetes mellitus.  All
indicated studies should be performed.  The
examiner should provide an opinion as to
whether any claimed blurring of vision is
the result of the veteran's service-
connected disorder.

3.  The RO should take adjudicatory action
based on the evidence obtained pursuant to
the development discussed hereinabove.  If
the benefit sought by the veteran is not
granted, a supplemental statement of the
case should be prepared.

After the veteran and his representative have been given an
opportunity to respond to the supplemental statement of the case,
the claims folder should be returned to this Board for further
appellate review, if in order.  No action is required by the
veteran until he receives further notice.  The purpose of the
remand is to procure clarifying data and to comply with governing
adjudicative procedures.  The Board intimates no opinion, either
legal or factual, as to the ultimate disposition of this appeal.

          STEPHEN L. WILKINS
          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).