BVA9507562 
DOCKET NO.  93-11 080     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in No.
Little Rock, Arkansas

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for bilateral athlete's
foot.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder.

3.  Entitlement to service connection for a back disorder.

4.  Entitlement to a permanent and total rating for pension
purposes.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Joseph Horrigan, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from February 1969 to July
1972.

This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)
from an August 1991 rating action of the North Little Rock,
Arkansas RO.  The case is certified for appellate consideration
at this time.

The veteran is also seeking service connection for dental
disability and a skin disorder claimed as a residual of exposure
to Agent Orange.  Service connection for a dental disability was
denied in a January 1993 rating decision.  In the Supplemental
Statement of the Case, issued later that month, the veteran was
not provided his appellate rights, and it appears that this was
the only notice to him of the action taken.  Further, the
Supplemental Statement of the Case also notes that his claim for
service connection for a dental disability was considered a
reopened claim for nonservice-connected disability pension
benefits.  He should be appropriately notified of the action
taken and provided his appellate rights.  The issue of service
connection for a skin disorder as a residual of exposure to Agent
Orange has not been fully developed and certified for appeal and
is referred to the RO for all appropriate action.

REMAND

The veteran has recently been scheduled for a VA physical
examination, but it does not appear from the record that he was
notified of this evaluation.  Also the record indicates that
additional relevant clinical records may be available which are
not in the claims folder.

In view of the foregoing, and given the duty to assist the
veteran in the development of his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5107
(West 1991), this case is REMANDED to the RO.  The issues of
entitlement to service connection for bilateral athlete's foot
and eye and back disorders are held in abeyance pending the
following action pertaining to the claim for pension benefits.

1.  The RO should take all appropriate
action, to include the obtaining of
necessary authorizations, to obtain copies
of all clinical records documenting the
veteran's treatment and/or
hospitalizations at the VA Medical Centers
in Little Rock, and North Little Rock,
Arkansas subsequent to January 18. 1991;
his reported treatment at the Emanual
(sic) Hospital in Tacoma Washington during
1972; and his reported treatment at the
University Hospital in Portland, Oregon
during 1984.  All records obtained should
be associated with the claims folder.

2.  Thereafter, the veteran should be
given a VA physical examination to
determine the nature and severity of all
his current disabilities.  All necessary
specialty examinations and tests should be
carried out and all pertinent clinical
findings reported in detail.  The claims
folder must be made available to the
examining physician(s) prior to the
examination(s) so that the pertinent
clinical records can be reviewed in detail
prior to the examination(s).  In
scheduling the veteran for this
examination, he may be contacted at
408 Nottingham, Little Rock, Arkansas
72204.

3.  Based on the development requested
herein above, the RO should review the
veteran's claim for pension benefits, to
include appropriate consideration of all
current disabilities.  If the benefit
sought is not granted, then he and his
representative should be provided with a
supplemental statement of the case and
afforded a reasonable opportunity to
respond thereto.

Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board for further
consideration, if appropriate.  By this remand, the Board
intimates no opinion as to the outcome warranted in this case.
No action is required of the veteran until he is so informed by
the RO.

          BARBARA B. COPELAND
          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) (1994).