BVA9501299 
DOCKET NO.  93-22 342     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg,
Florida

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to a permanent and total disability rating for
nonservice-connected pension purposes.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Heather J. Harner, Associate Counsel
REMAND

The veteran had active duty from August 1966 to January 1970.

To ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (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 RO should obtain the names and
addresses of all medical care providers,
including VA medical care providers, who
have treated the veteran since November
1992.  After securing the necessary
release(s), if any, the RO should obtain
these records.

2.        The veteran should be afforded a VA
general medical examination to determine
and evaluate the veteran's overall state
of health.  The claims folder should be
made available to the examiner for review
before the examination.  The examiner
should specifically comment upon the
veteran's employability.

3.        The RO should obtain from the Social
Security Administration the records
pertinent to the appellant's Social
Security disability benefits as well as
the medical records relied upon
concerning that claim.

4.        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 purpose of this remand is to assist the veteran in
the development of his claim.  The Board intimates no opinion as
to the ultimate outcome of this case.  The appellant need take no
action unless otherwise notified.

          J. U. JOHNSON
          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).