BVA9507970 
DOCKET NO.  94-02 387     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Paul,
Minnesota

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for residuals of a nasal
fracture.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

James L. March, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from January 1969 to November
1971.  This appeal comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals
(Board) from a July 1992 rating decision of the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Paul,
Minnesota.  The issue of entitlement to benefits under 38
U.S.C.A. § 1151 (West 1991) initially was deferred by the RO;
however, this issue may now be developed and adjudicated, and the
RO should do so.

REMAND

The veteran alleges that his nose was fractured in service during
a fight.  He attributes his current sinus problems to the alleged
nasal fracture.  A VA hospitalization report from March 1989
indicates that the veteran had a sinus window for sinusitis two
years earlier.  It also indicates that he underwent a septoplasty
for a deviated septum.  However, the medical records concerning
the deviated septum are not in the veteran's claims folder, and
there is no indication that the RO attempted to secure them.  As
the crux of the veteran's claim is whether he indeed had a nasal
fracture in service, records of a septoplasty are essential in
evaluating the claim.

In light of the foregoing, the Board is REMANDING this case for
the following actions:

1.  The RO should contact the veteran and
request that he identify the names,
addresses, and approximate dates of
treatment for all VA and non-VA health care
providers who have treated him since service
for a nasal fracture and any alleged
residuals thereof.  Specifically, he should
be requested to identify the name and
address of the health care provider who
performed the septoplasty for the deviated
septum.  With any necessary authorization
from the veteran, the RO should attempt to
obtain copies of pertinent treatment records
identified by the veteran in response to
this request, which have not been previously
secured.

2.  Then, the RO should arrange for a VA
examination by an ear, nose and throat
specialist, to determine the current nature
and extent of any nasal and/or sinus
disability and whether there is any evidence
of a prior nasal fracture.  The claims
folder and a copy of this REMAND must be
provided to the examining physician for
review prior to the examination.  All
indicated studies should be done.  Complete
rationale for all opinions expressed should
be given.

3.  Then, the RO should undertake any other
indicated development and readjudicate the
issue on appeal.

If the benefit sought on appeal is not granted to the veteran's
satisfaction, the veteran and his representative should be issued
a supplemental statement of the case and be afforded a reasonable
opportunity to reply.  Thereafter, the case should be returned to
the Board for further appellate consideration, if otherwise in
order.

In taking this action, the Board implies no conclusion as to any
ultimate outcome warranted.  No action is required of the veteran
until he is otherwise notified by the RO.

          ROBERT E. SULLIVAN
          Member, Board of Veterans' Appeals

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

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) (1994).