BVA9501427 
DOCKET NO.  93-10 675     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Waco, Texas

THE ISSUES

Entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability.

Entitlement to an increased evaluation for a chronic low back
strain with arthritic changes superimposed on congenital
sacralization, currently rated 10 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: AMVETS

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Hilary L. Goodman, Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active service from February 1969 to August 1990.

This appeal arises from an April 1992 rating decision which
granted service connection for a low back disability and assigned
a 10 percent disability evaluation and denied service connection
for a right knee disability.

The veteran has related, and service medical records confirm,
that in May 1988 an examining physician indicated that the
veteran had a clunk in the right knee.  The record reflects that
McMurray's sign was positive and the physician indicated that the
veteran might have a torn meniscus of the right knee.  The
veteran's representative has contended that the findings made on
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) examination related to the
veteran's low back were limited and inadequate for purposes of
evaluating the severity of his low back disability.  No findings
were made regarding the veteran's right knee.

It is herein noted that the most recent VA outpatient treatment
records in the claims file are dated in July 1992.  The Board of
Veterans' Appeals (Board), having reviewed the record, finds that
further development is required.  Accordingly, the issues are
being REMANDED to the originating agency for the following
action:

1.  The originating agency should request
legible copies of the veteran's treatment
records dated subsequent to July 1992 from
the VA Medical Center, Big Spring.  All
records obtained should be associated with
the veteran's claims file.

2.  After the medical records have been
obtained, the veteran should be scheduled
for a special VA orthopedic examination to
identify the current severity of the
veteran's service connected low back
disability and identify the presence and
etiology of any current right knee
disability.  All clinical manifestations
attributable to each disability should be
reported in detail.  All necessary tests
and studies should be accomplished.  The
examiner should be provided with the claims
file for review in connection with the
examination.  If a right knee disability is
present, the examiner should be asked to
provide an opinion as to the degree of
probability, if any, that such pathology is
related to the right knee complaints
reported during service.

3.  Upon completion of the above, the
originating agency should review these
claims.  If any determination made is
unfavorable to the veteran, a supplemental
statement of the case which sets forth the
evidence received since the December 1992
supplemental statement of the case should
be issued to the veteran and his
representative.

The veteran and his representative should be given the
appropriate period of time in which to respond.  Thereafter, the
case should be returned to the Board for further appellate
consideration, if otherwise in order.  The purpose of this REMAND
is to obtain clarifying medical information and ensure all due
process.  No action is required of the veteran until he receives
further notice.

          CHARLES E. HOGEBOOM
          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).