BVA9500610 
DOCKET NO.  93-10 774     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Montgomery,
Alabama

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for a right elbow
disability.

3.  Entitlement to an increased (compensable) evaluation for a
low back disability.

4.  Entitlement to an increased (compensable) evaluation for
pterygium involving the right eye.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Robert P. Regan, Counsel

REMAND

The appellant had active duty from October 1966 to September
1991.

A review of the December 1991 VA examination reflects that x-rays
of the lumbosacral spine were not performed.  The Board of
Veterans' Appeals is of the opinion that contemporaneous and
thorough VA examinations would be of assistance in rendering a
decision in this case.  To ensure that VA has met its duty to
assist the appellant 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 all medical care providers who
treated the appellant for low back, left
hip, and right elbow disabilities and the
pterygium involving the right eye since his
retirement from active duty.  After
securing the necessary release, the RO
should obtain these records.

2.  The appellant should be afforded VA
examinations by and orthopedist and an
opthalmologist in order to determine the
nature and severity of any disabilities
involving the low back, left hip and right
elbow, and the pterygium of the right eye,
respectively. It is requested that the
orthopedist, in conducting range of motion
studies, include the degrees of normal
range of the lumbosacral spine.  It is
requested that the opthalmologist render an
opinion as to whether the appellant is
experiencing diplopia in the right eye due
to the pterygium per his assertion .  The
claims folder should be made available to
the examiners for review before the
examination.  All testing, including x-rays
of the lumbosacral spine, deemed necessary
should be performed.

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 appellant need take no action unless otherwise
notified.

          ALBERT D. TUTERA
          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 action has been taken in
accordance with the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1994,
Pub. L. No. 103-446, § 303, 108 Stat. 4645, ___ (1994), and 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).