BVA9503782 
DOCKET NO.  93-09 163     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Houston, Texas

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for hearing loss.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for epilepsy.

3.  Entitlement to an increased (compensable) evaluation for
residuals of a fracture of the radial styloid process, left wrist
(minor).

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Ronald R. Bosch, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from March 1966 to February
1969.

This appeal arose from a December 1990 rating decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in
Houston, Texas.  The RO denied entitlement to service connection
for hearing loss and epilepsy, and granted entitlement to service
connection for residuals of a fracture of the radial styloid
process, left wrist, which was assigned a noncompensable
evaluation.  In a January 1993 rating decision, the RO, in
relevant part, affirmed the determinations previously entered.

The case has been forwarded to the Board of Veterans' Appeals
(Board) for appellate review.

REMAND

When the RO issued a rating decision in December 1990 granting
entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left wrist
fracture, it predicated its assignment of a noncompensable
evaluation on a March 15, 1990 VA outpatient treatment report
notation of "motor 5/5 with sensory intact to light touch."  The
above clinical finding does not constitute sufficient evidence
upon which to rate the appellant's left wrist disability.

The Board is of the opinion that a contemporaneous VA orthopedic
examination of the left wrist would materially assist in the
adjudication of this part of the veteran's appeal.

Pursuant to VA's duty to assist the veteran in the development of
facts pertinent to his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5107(a) (West
1991);  38 C.F.R. § 3.103(a) (1994), adjudication of the issues
prepared and certified for appellate review is being deferred
pending a REMAND of the veteran's case to the RO for further
actions as follows:

1.  The RO should schedule the veteran for
a VA orthopedic examination to determine
the extent of severity of residuals of a
fracture of the radial styloid process,
left wrist.  The examination is to be
conducted in accordance with the diagnostic
procedures outlined in Chapter 2 of the VA
Physician's Guide for Disability Evaluation
Examinations.  All indicated studies are to
be conducted.  The claims file must be made
available to and reviewed by the examiner
prior to the examination.

2.  After undertaking any development
deemed appropriate in addition to that
specified above, the RO should readjudicate
the issue of entitlement to an increased
(compensable) evaluation for residuals of a
fracture of the radial styloid process,
left wrist.

If the benefits requested on appeal are not granted to the
veteran's satisfaction, the RO should issue a supplemental
statement of the case.  A reasonable period of time for a
response should be afforded.  Thereafter, the case should be
returned to the Board for further appellate review, if otherwise
in order.  By this REMAND, the Board intimates no opinion as to
any final outcome warranted.  No action is required of the
veteran until he is notified by the RO.

                                                      BRUCE
KANNEE
          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).