BVA9502974 
DOCKET NO.  93-21 410     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg,
Florida

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to an increased (compensable) rating for
bronchitis.

2.  Whether new and material evidence to reopen a claim for
service connection for a left shoulder disability has been
submitted.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

E. J. McCafferty, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from April 1943 to October 1943.
This appeal comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from
rating determinations by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Regional Office (RO) in St. Petersburg, Florida.

A hearing on appeal was conducted by a traveling member of the
Board of Veterans' Appeals at the RO in September 1993.

REMAND

From our review of the record in this case, we note that at the
hearing on appeal the veteran testified that he had problems with
his bronchitis in the morning and on exertion.  He indicated he
had this problem 3 or 4 times a week.  At the hearing copies of
VA outpatient treatment records for June and August 1993 were
submitted.  Also, a copy of a 1991 magnetic resonance imaging was
also submitted into evidence.  The record shows that the
veteran's last VA examination was in January 1992.  In view of
the veteran's testimony as to his symptomatology and the report
of recent VA outpatient treatment, we are of the opinion that
additional development of the evidence, specifically, a current
VA examination, would be beneficial prior to further appellate
review.  Accordingly, the case is being REMANDED for the
following action:

1.  The RO should request copies of any VA
outpatient treatment records subsequent to
those recorded in June and August 1993.
Any material obtained should be associated
with the claims folder.

2.  The veteran should be accorded a VA
examination to determine the current extent
of his service-connected bronchitis.  Any
testing deemed necessary by the examiner in
order to accomplish the foregoing should be
undertaken.

When the above actions are completed, the case should be reviewed
by the RO to include the evidence submitted at the travel board
hearing.  If the benefit sought remains denied, the veteran and
his representative should be furnished an appropriate
supplemental statement of the case.  After they have had an
adequate opportunity to respond, the case should be returned to
the Board for further appellate review, if in order.  The sole
purpose of this REMAND is to obtain clarifying data.

          J. U. JOHNSON
          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).