BVA9501153 
DOCKET NO.  93-10 299     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Nashville,
Tennessee

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased rating for a left inguinal hernia.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Tennessee Department of
Veterans' Affairs

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Robert E. P. Jones, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran served on active duty from November 1942 to December
1945.  This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals
(Board) on appeal from an August 1992 decision by the Nashville,
Tennessee, Regional Office (RO).

The veteran seeks an increased rating for his left inguinal
hernia.  He contends that this disability has caused him
increasing pain and difficulty.  The veteran has not had a
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) examination of his left
inguinal hernia disability since March 1977.

On file is a report from Patrick Greer, M.D., in June 1992.  The
veteran contends that his private physician has told him that
more surgery would only cause additional pain.  He also contends
that his disability has worsened and has caused the development
of a hydrocele.

In light of the foregoing, this case is hereby REMANDED to the
agency of original jurisdiction for the following action:

1.  After obtaining the appropriate
authorization, the RO should contact
Patrick Greer, M.D., and request copies of
all treatment records concerning the
veteran's left inguinal hernia dated
subsequent to June 1992.  All documents
obtained should be associated with the
veteran's claims file.

2.  The RO should schedule the veteran for
a VA examination in order to determine the
nature and extent of the veteran's left
inguinal hernia disability.  All tests and
studies deemed necessary should be
performed and all clinical manifestations
should be reported in detail.  The claims
file should be made available to the
examiner prior to examination.

After the requested development has been completed, the veteran's
claim should again be considered by the RO.  Should the prior
denial be confirmed,  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.  The purpose of this remand is to obtain
necessary information.

          V. L. JORDAN
          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).