BVA9501963 
DOCKET NO.  93-08 503     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Huntington,
West Virginia

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Fleet Reserve Association

WITNESSES AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant and spouse

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

E. J. McCafferty, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from February 1988 to February
1992.  This appeal comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals
(Board) from a rating action by the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Huntington, West Virginia.

REMAND

From a preliminary review of the record in this case, we note
that the veteran has had consistent complaints of low back pain
since his discharge from service.  He argues that a low back
injury in service has resulted in his present low back
disability.  The record shows that the veteran was treated in
service in July 1987 for low back complaints.  A definitive
diagnosis was not entered at that time or on VA examination in
October 1992.  At the hearing on appeal, the veteran testified
that he had received treatment for his low back at a VA facility
subsequent to the VA examination in October 1992.  In light of
the veteran's continuing back complaints and the reported VA
treatment for his back, we find that further development of the
evidence would be beneficial in this case.  Accordingly, the case
is REMANDED for the following actions:

1.  The RO should obtain the name of the VA
facility where the veteran claims he
received treatment for his low back
subsequent to October 1992 and then obtain
copies of the records of said treatment for
incorporation into the claims folder.

2.  The veteran should be accorded a VA
orthopedic examination to determine the
nature and etiology of his low back
complaints.  Any testing deemed necessary
by the examiner for this determination, to
include X-ray studies, should be
undertaken.  The claims folder should be
made available to the examiner for study
prior to the examination.  After review of
the claims folder and on completion of the
examination, the examiner should express an
opinion as to whether there is a
relationship between the veteran's low back
complaints in service and any currently
identified low back pathology.

When the above actions have been completed, the case should be
reviewed by the RO.  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.  The purpose of this
REMAND is to obtain clarifying data.

          GEORGE R. SENYK
          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).