BVA9500508 
DOCKET NO.  93-08 252     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in
Houston, Texas

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to an increase in the 30 percent evaluation
currently assigned for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the
left thigh.

2.  Entitlement to an increase in the 10 percent evaluation
currently assigned for thrombophlebitis of the left lower
extremity.

3.  Entitlement to an increase on the 10 percent evaluation
currently assigned for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the
right thigh.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

The veteran

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Christopher Maynard, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active service from March 1943 to March 1946.

Subsequent to an April 1991 VA examination, the veteran was
hospitalized at a private medical facility in November 1991 for
swelling of his leg.  A venogram at that time showed deep vein
thrombosis in the left leg and some diminished peripheral
vascular resistance on Doppler examination.  The veteran was
placed on Coumadin and was told to return to the hospital for
further studies.  The results of the studies, if performed, are
not reported in the claims folder.

In light of the current evidence of record, and to ensure that
the VA has met its duty to assist the claimant in developing the
facts pertinent to the claim, the case is REMANDED to the RO for
the following action:

1.  The RO should take appropriate steps to
obtain copies of all available medical
records concerning the November 1991 period
of hospitalization and any other source of
medical care identified by the veteran
referable to treatment of problems relating
to his service-connected disorder since
1991.

2.  The veteran should be afforded special
orthopedic and peripheral vascular
examinations for VA to determine the
current status of his service-connected
disabilities.  The claims folder should be
made available to the examiner for review
before the examination.  All pertinent
studies should be performed.  The
examination should be conducted in
accordance with the guidelines set out in
the Physician's Guide for Disability
Evaluation Examinations (IB 11-56, March 1,
1985).  The findings should be typed or
otherwise recorded in a legible manner for
review purposes.

3.  After the development requested above
has been completed to the extent possible,
the RO should again review the record.  If
any benefit sought on appeal remains
denied, the veteran 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 veteran need take no action unless otherwise
notified.

          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).