BVA9501981 
DOCKET NO.  91-47 342     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Indianapolis,
Indiana

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for residuals of infectious
mononucleosis.

3.  Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric
disorder.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

D. B. Weiss, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active duty from June 1975 to June 1979.

This case was originally an appeal from a decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in
Indianapolis, Indiana.  In December 1992, however, the case was
transferred to the Huntington, West Virginia, RO, due to the
veteran's change of residence.

This claims folder was assigned in the past to a former Board of
Veterans' Appeals (Board) employee who has been convicted of
tampering with veteran's claims folders.  After careful scrutiny,
it does not appear that any documents contained in the claims
file have been altered or removed.  As there is no evidence of
any compromise of the integrity of the record on appeal, the case
may properly be considered and decided by the Board.

The representative points out in an October 1994 statement that a
VA psychiatric examiner did not provide an opinion as to whether,
and if so, how, the disorder found was related to military
service as requested in the Board's August 1992 remand.  The
representative has requested that the case be remanded to the RO.

To ensure that the VA has met its duty to assist the claimant in
developing the facts pertinent to the claims and to ensure full
compliance with due process requirements, the case is REMANDED to
the RO for the following development:

1.  The RO should obtain the names and
addresses of all medical care providers who
treated the veteran for the claimed
disorders since October 1993.  After
securing the necessary release, the RO
should attempt to obtain these records.

2.  The veteran should be afforded a VA
psychiatric examination to determine the
nature and extent of any psychiatric
disorder.  The claims folder must be made
available to the examiner for review before
the examination.  The examiner should be
asked to review the claims file and offer
an opinion as to whether any current
psychiatric disorder is related to the
psychiatric symptoms and history shown in
the service medical records and the post-
service and current psychiatric
symptomatology.  The examiner should also
be asked to fully explain the basis of
his/her opinion.

3.  We note that the veteran failed to
report for examinations scheduled in 1993.
If the veteran expresses a willingness to
report for additional examinations, the RO
should schedule the veteran for
examinations concerning his low back
disorder and residuals of mononucleosis, as
requested in the Board's August 1992
remand.  Any indicated tests or studies
should be performed.  Each examiner must be
provided with the claims file for review.
Each examiner should be asked to offer an
opinion concerning any relationship between
any abnormality found on examination and
any symptoms or findings shown during
service or subsequent to service.  Each
examiner should fully explain the basis of
his/her opinion.

4.  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
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 until otherwise
notified.

          WILLIAM J. REDDY
          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).