BVA9502547 
DOCKET NO.  93-05 560     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased rating for the veteran's service-
connected bronchial asthma, currently rated 10 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

L. J. Vecchiollo, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty in the Armed Forces from July
1977 to July 1980.

This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on
appeal from a July 1991 rating decision from the Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office
(RO) which granted entitlement to service connection for
bronchial asthma and assigned a 10 percent disability rating.  A
notice of disagreement was received in November 1991.  A
statement of the case was issued in March 1992.  A substantive
appeal was received in April 1992.

REMAND

Although the veteran had a VA examination for purposes of rating
his service-connected bronchial asthma in May 1991, a current
examination would be helpful to ascertain the present level of
disability.  The available medical evidence does not include
findings as to the presence and frequency of asthmatic attacks or
as to the presence of symptoms between attacks.  The VA duty to
assist includes the conduct of a VA examination where the record
does not adequately reveal the current state of the claimant's
disability.  Proscelle v. Derwinski, 2 Vet.App. 629, 632 (1992)
citing Schafrath v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 589, 595 (1991).

Under the circumstances in this case, further development and
assistance are required.  Thus, this case is REMANDED to the RO
for the following actions:

1.        The veteran should be afforded a VA
examination to determine the current
manifestations of his service-connected
bronchial asthma.  All special studies and
tests found useful by the examiner should
be undertaken.  The claims folder should be
made available to the examiner prior to the
examination.  The examiner should state a
medical opinion as to whether clinical
findings of asthma are present at the time
of the examination.  If not, the examiner
should state a medical opinion as to
whether the entire medical record
establishes a history of asthmatic attacks.
The examiner should also make an
assessment, based on the entire record, as
to the frequency of asthmatic attacks, and
as to the presence of symtoms between
attacks.  In addition, the examiner should
state whether any symptoms present between
attacks are relieved by medication, and the
examiner should report specific findings as
to whether there is loss of weight or any
other evidence of impairment of health
attributable to the asthma.  All findings
should be reported in detail.

2.        The RO should readjudicate the
veteran's claim for entitlement to an
increased rating for his service-connected
bronchial asthma.  If the action taken is
adverse to the veteran, he and his
representative should be furnished a
supplemental statement of the case that
contains a summary of the relevant evidence
and a citation and discussion of the
applicable laws and regulations.  He should
also be afforded the opportunity to respond
to that supplemental statement of the case
before the claim is returned to the Board,
if appropriate.

Following completion of the above actions, the case should be
returned to the Board for further appellate consideration.

          G.H. SHUFELT
          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).