BVA9502465 
DOCKET NO.  93-11 824     )       DATE
          )
          )

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

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to an increased rating for disability of the left
elbow, currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling.

2.  Entitlement to an increased rating for disability of the left
wrist, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Jeffrey A. Pisaro, Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active service from January 1956 to December
1968.  This appeal arises from an October 1992 rating decision of
the Montgomery, Alabama, Regional Office (RO).

Although recent VA outpatient treatment records show that the
veteran has been receiving treatment for the disabilities at
issue, the veteran has not received a VA rating examination in
many years.  Under the circumstances of this case, the Board
finds that further assistance is required.  Accordingly, the case
is REMANDED to the RO for the following actions:

1.  The RO should contact the veteran and
obtain the names and addresses of all
health care providers where he has received
treatment for his left wrist and elbow in
recent years.  Thereafter, the RO should
obtain legible copies of all records which
have not already been obtained to include
those from the Birmingham VA Medical Center
from October 1992 to the present.  Once
obtained, all records must be associated
with the claims folder.

2.  Following completion of above
development, the veteran should be afforded
a VA orthopedic examination to determine
the nature and extent of all disability of
the left wrist and elbow.  The claims
folder must be made available to the
examiner prior to the examination.  The
report of examination should include a
summary of the pertinent history, the
veteran's complaints, objective findings,
and a description of functional impairment.
All indicated tests, to include x-rays and
complete range of motion studies, should be
accomplished.  All excursions of movement
of the left elbow and wrist should be
specifically recorded in numbers of
degrees, and any portion of the arcs of
motion which are painful should be so
designated.

3.  When the above development has been
completed, the case should be reviewed by
the RO.  If the decision remains adverse to
the veteran in any way, he and his
representative should be furnished with a
supplemental statement of the case.  They
should then be afforded the applicable time
to respond.

Thereafter, subject to current appellate procedures, the case
should be returned to the Board for further appellate
consideration, if appropriate.  The veteran need take no action
until he is further informed.  The purpose of this REMAND is to
obtain additional information and to ensure due process of law.
No inference should be drawn regarding the final disposition of
the claim as a result of this action.

          GARY L. GICK
          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 deter-
mination.  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).