BVA9506133 
DOCKET NO.  93-04 346     )       DATE
          )
          )

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

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder
characterized as an undifferentiated somatoform disorder.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for sciatica.

3.  Entitlement to an increased disability evaluation for
residuals of a low back injury, currently evaluated as 20 percent
disabling.

4.  Entitlement to an increased disability evaluation for
gastritis, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

J. T. Hutcheson, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active military service from October 1976 to
October 1980.  This matter came before the Board of Veterans'
Appeals (hereinafter "the Board") on appeal from an August 1992
rating decision of the Nashville, Tennessee Regional Office
(hereinafter "the RO") which denied service connection for a
psychiatric disorder characterized as an undifferentiated
somatoform disorder; service connection for sciatica; and
increased disability evaluations for the veteran's
service-connected low back injury residuals and gastritis.  In
February 1993, the veteran was informed in writing that his
appeal was being certified to the Board and he had ninety days in
which to request a change in representation; to request a
personal hearing; or to submit additional evidence.  In September
1994, the veteran submitted additional treatment records from the
Therapy Center, Inc.  In January 1995, the veteran submitted a
written motion asserting that there was good cause for his delay
in forwarding the additional clinical documentation.  In February
1995, the Board granted the veteran's motion and informed him
that all evidence of record would be considered in resolving his
appeal.  The veteran has been represented throughout this appeal
by the American Legion.

The veteran asserts on appeal that the RO erred in denying both
service connection for a psychiatric disorder and sciatica and
increased disability evaluations for his service-connected low
back disorder and gastritis.  He contends that his
service-connected disorders have increased in severity and have
been found to have resulted in the onset of an undifferentiated
somatoform disorder and sciatica.  In reviewing the record, the
Board observes that clinical documentation from the Therapy
Center, Inc., dated in January and February 1994 conveys that he
was involved in a December 19, 1993 motor vehicle accident and
had suffered back pain as a consequence.  The most recent
Department of Veterans Affairs (hereinafter "VA") examination was
conducted in July 1992.
The United States Court of Veterans Appeals (hereinafter "the
Court") has held that the VA's statutory duty to assist the
veteran includes conducting a thorough and contemporaneous
examination so that the evaluation of the veteran's disabilities
will be a fully informed one.  Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App.
121, 124 (1991).  The Court has clarified that where the record
does not adequately reveal the current state of the veteran's
disability, a VA examination must be conducted.  Schafrath v.
Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 589, 595 (1991).  Given the apparent recent
trauma to the veteran's back, the Board finds that additional VA
orthopedic and neurological evaluations would be helpful in
resolving the issues raised by the instant appeal.

In light of the VA's duty to assist the veteran in the proper
development of his claim as mandated by the provisions of
38 U.S.C.A. § 5107(b) (West 1991) and as interpreted by the
Court in Green, Schafrath and Littke v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App.
90, 92-93 (1990), this case is REMANDED for the following
action:

The RO should schedule the veteran for a VA
examination which includes orthopedic and
neurological evaluations in order to
determine the current nature and severity
of his back disability.  The examination
should be conducted in accordance with the
Physician's Guide to Disability Evaluation
Examinations.  All indicated tests and
studies should be accomplished and the
findings then reported in detail.  The
examiners should advance an opinion as to
the etiology of all identified back
disorders and expressly state whether the
veteran currently suffers from sciatica.
The claims folder should be made available
to the examiners prior to the examination.

When the requested action has been completed, and if his claim
continues to be denied, the veteran should be afforded a
reasonable period of time in which to respond to a supplemental
statement of the case.  Thereafter, subject to current appellate
procedures, the case should be returned to the Board for further
appellate consideration if appropriate.  The veteran need not
take any action unless he is further informed.  The purpose of
this REMAND is to allow for further development of the record.
No inference should be drawn from it regarding the final
disposition of the veteran's claim.

          E. W. SEERY
          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 is appealable to the Court.  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).