BVA9501077 
DOCKET NO.  93-05 078     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Cleveland, Ohio

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for a chronic back disability.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

REMAND

The veteran had active duty from September 1968 to October 1972,
and from September 1973 to December 1975.

The veteran has a rather complicated history of back problems and
a variety of back complaints.  Over the years, his clinical
history has included references to 6 lumbar vertebrae with
sacralization of the 6th lumbar vertebra, articulation of the
sacrum on the right, a lumbar curve to the right, Scheuermann's
disease, arthritis, stenosis, and a lumbar herniated nucleus
pulposus.  To ensure that VA has met its duty to assist the
appellant in developing the facts pertinent to the claim, the
case is REMANDED to the regional office (RO) for the following
development:

The veteran should be afforded a VA
orthopedic examination to determine the
nature and extent of his back disability.
The claims folder should be made available
to the examiner for review before the
examination.  All indicated tests and
studies should be conducted.  The examiner
is specifically requested to conduct a
longitudinal review of the veteran's claims
folder and identify each and every back
disorder that has been manifested.  The
examiner should set forth the etiology of
each back disorder found, including whether
it is congenital or developmental.

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.

          LAWRENCE M. 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) (1993).