BVA9502076 
DOCKET NO.  93-10 387     )       DATE
          )
          )

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

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to an increased evaluation for lichen simplex,
chronic, with neurodermatitis, currently evaluated as 30 percent
disabling.

2.  Entitlement to a compensable evaluation for right ear
defective hearing.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

WITNESSES AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant and his wife

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

T. S. Kelly, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active miliary service from July 1941 to May
1947.

REMAND

A review of the file demonstrates that in March 1992, the veteran
supplied written authorizations to obtain medical treatment
records from the Watson Clinic, the Tampa University Hospital,
Dr. Thomas Oates, and Dr. John Simonds.  It does not appear that
attempts were made to obtain these records.  It further appears
that the veteran has recently received treatment at a Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility apparently in Florida,
but not specifically identified, based upon testimony given by
him at the time of his January 1993 personal hearing.  Transcript
page 5.  In addition, he may have referred to records which he
has not specifically identified and which he believes should be
considered in connection with the current claims.  (See, for
example, his statements dated March 27, 1992 and July 13, 1992).
All these records should be obtained.

The United States Court of Veterans Appeals (Court) has held that
the duty to assist an appellant in obtaining and developing
available facts and evidence to support his claim includes
obtaining relevant medical records from any source.  Littke v.
Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 90 (1991).

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 regional office (RO) for the following development:

1.  The RO should obtain the names and addresses
of the medical care providers who have treated
the veteran for the disabilities at issue since
1989, to include; the Watson Clinic, the Tampa
University Hospital, Dr. Thomas Oates, and Dr.
John Simonds.  After securing the necessary
information and the proper releases from the
veteran, the RO should obtain copies of those
records.

2.  The RO should also ask the veteran to
identify the VA Medical Center or Outpatient
Clinic at which he currently, or recently,
received treatment.  The RO should then obtain
copies of any treatment records so identified.

3.  The RO should invite the veteran to identify
or to submit any additional medical records
which he believes have a bearing on the current
claims, and, if necessary, the RO should assist
him in obtaining these records.

4.  Thereafter, the RO should schedule the
veteran for a special VA dermatological
examination, by an examiner who has not
previously examined him, if possible, to
determine the current nature and severity of any
skin disorder.  All indicated studies, should be
done and all findings should be reported in
detail.  The examination should be conducted in
accordance with Chapter 11 of the VA's
Physician's Guide for Disability Evaluation
Examinations.  The claims folder must be made
available to the examiner prior to the
examination.

5.  The RO should also arrange for the veteran to
receive an VA audiological evaluation by an
appropriate medical specialist to determine the
extent of any current right ear hearing loss.

After the completion of the above requested development, the RO
should review the veteran's claim.  If the benefits sought on
appeal remain denied, a supplemental statement of the case should
be given to the veteran and his representative.  They should be
afforded a reasonable period of time to respond.  Thereafter, the
case should be returned to the Board for further appellate
consideration.  By this remand, the Board intimates no opinion as
to the ultimate outcome of this case.

          NANCY  I. PHILLIPS
          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).