BVA9506312 
DOCKET NO.  93-13 983     )       DATE
          )
          )

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

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased (compensable) rating for gonococcal
arthritis of the right knee.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active duty from December 1951 to December 1954.

This appeal is taken from a January 1991 Regional Office (RO)
determination which confirmed and continued a noncompensable
evaluation for the disability at issue.

REMAND

The veteran asserts that his current right knee symptoms are more
disabling than the current rating reflects, and may not be
dissociated from his service-connected right knee disability.
The Board notes that, with the exception of a VA X-ray
examination report dated in February 1992, the medical evidence
of record notes current symptomatology of the right knee without
any clinical opinion of record distinguishing symptoms
attributable to any nonservice-connected knee disability from
those symptoms attributable to the service-connected right knee
disability.  Indeed, while the VA X-ray examination report dated
in February 1992 noted that no manifestations could be attributed
solely to the service-connected right knee disability, no opinion
was proffered as to whether the current manifestations could be
clinically distinguished from the service-connected disability.

To ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has met
its duty to assist the claimant in developing the facts pertinent
to the claim and to ensure full compliance with due process
requirements, 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
have treated the veteran for right knee
symptomatology since 1991.  After securing
the necessary release, the RO should obtain
these records.

2.  The veteran should be afforded a VA
orthopedic examination to determine the
current nature and severity of the service-
connected right knee disability.  The
examiner should be specifically requested
to provide an opinion as to whether any
current right knee symptoms may be
clinically dissociated from the service-
connected right knee disability.  All
diagnostic tests, including blood and urine
analyses, as well as X-ray examination,
necessary for such determination should be
performed.  The claims folder must be made
available to the examiner for review before
the examination.

3.  After the development requested above
has been completed to the extent possible,
the RO should again review the record.  If
any benefit sought on appeal, for which a
notice of disagreement has been filed,
remains denied, the appellant and his
representative, should be furnished a
supplemental statement of the case and
given the opportunity to respond thereto.

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.

          U. R. POWELL
          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).