BVA9500285 
DOCKET NO.  93-07 042     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Boston,
Massachusetts

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased disability evaluation for a right
knee disorder, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Anna Bryant, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active military service from December 1978 to
January 1982.

This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on
appeal from an April 1990 rating decision of the Boston,
Massachusetts, Regional Office (RO) of the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA).

REMAND

The veteran and his representative contend that an increased
disability evaluation is warranted for the veteran's service-
connected right knee disorder.  It is maintained that he suffers
from persistent pain and swelling, as well as weakness and marked
limitation of motion.  Review of the evidentiary record reflects
that the veteran has not been provided a VA examination since
August 1991, the examination on which the 10 percent disability
evaluation was based.

Under the circumstances of this case, the Board concludes that
additional medical development of the record would be beneficial
prior to appellate disposition.  Accordingly, further appellate
consideration will be deferred and the case is REMANDED to the RO
for the following action:

1.  The veteran should be requested to
identify all sources of recent medical
treatment received for his
service-connected right knee disorder, and
to furnish signed authorizations for
release to the VA of private medical
records in connection with each non-VA
medical source he identifies.  Copies of
the medical

records from all sources he identifies (not
already in the claims folder) should then
be requested.  All records obtained should
be added to the claims folder.

2.  The RO should schedule the veteran for
an orthopedic examination for the purpose
of determining the current severity of his
service-connected right knee disorder.  All
indicated tests and studies should be
performed and reported in accordance with
the VA I[nformation] B[ulletin] 11-56
Physician's Guide for Disability Evaluation
Examinations (March 1, 1985).  The claims
folder should be made available and
reviewed by the examiner prior to the
examination of the veteran.

If the benefit sought on appeal is denied, the veteran and his
representative should be afforded the requisite 60 days to
respond to the supplemental statement of the case.  38 C.F.R.
§ 20.302(c) (1993).  Thereafter, the case should be returned to
the Board for further appellate consideration, if otherwise in
order, following appropriate appellate procedures.  The purpose
of this REMAND is to further develop the record and the Board
does not intimate any opinion, either factual or legal, as to the
ultimate disposition notified.

          ALBERT D. TUTERA
          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 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).