BVA9502058 
DOCKET NO.  93-00 249     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Albuquerque,
New Mexico

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Alan S. Peevy, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active military service from January 1970 to
September 1971.

This case is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on
appeal from a June 1992 rating decision by the Albuquerque, New
Mexico, Regional Office (RO).  A notice of disagreement was
received in July 1992, and a statement of the case was issued in
August 1992.  A substantive appeal was received in October 1992.

The veteran is represented by the Disabled American Veterans.

REMAND

In a Statement in Support of Claim (VA Form 21-4138) received in
January 1990, the veteran reported that he was scheduled for an
appointment at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient
facility in El Paso, Texas, in February 1990.  He further
indicated that medical evidence of his claimed hearing loss could
be obtained from that outpatient clinic.  However, the claims
file contains no records from that facility pertaining to that
time frame, nor does the record clearly show that such records
were requested by the RO for inclusion in the claims file.  Under
the circumstances, the Board believes an attempt should be made
to obtain any such pertinent VA medical records before the Board
proceeds with its appellate review.

Accordingly, the case is hereby REMANDED to the RO for the
following actions:

1.  The RO should contact the VA
outpatient clinic in El Paso, Texas,
and obtain all medical records
documenting treatment for any hearing
complaints.  The RO's request should
specifically mention the February 5,
1990, appointment which the veteran
referred to in his January 1990 claim.

2.  After completion of the above, the
RO should consider whether any further
development of the record is warranted.
The RO should then review the record
and determine if the veteran's claim
can be granted.  If the RO's decision
remains adverse to the veteran, then
the veteran and his representative
should be furnished a supplemental
statement of the case setting forth a
summary of the evidence, a citation to
and discussion of applicable laws and
regulations, and a detailed analysis of
the reasons for the RO's decision.
After affording the veteran and his
representative a reasonable opportunity
to respond, the case should be returned
to the Board for further appellate
review.

The purpose of this decision is to ensure that all pertinent VA
medical records are associated with the claims file.  The Board
intimates no opinion as to the ultimate determination to be made
in this case.

          EUGENE A. O'NEILL
          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.

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)
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).