BVA9504520 
DOCKET NO.  93-04 380     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Paul,
Minnesota

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to an increased rating for a low back disability,
currently evaluated as 40 percent disabling.

2.  Entitlement to an increased rating for psychotic depression
with tension headaches, currently evaluated as 30 percent
disabling.

3.  Entitlement to an increased rating for bursitis of the right
shoulder, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

James L. March, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from July 1978 to April 1987.
This appeal comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from
a March 1992 rating decision of the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Paul, Minnesota.

REMAND

Subsequent to the Board's receiving this case, the veteran filed
a claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability.
Accompanying the claim was a decision of the Social Security
Administration (SSA) which granted the veteran disability
benefits.  Numerous medical reports which were listed by the SSA
as evidence upon which it relied, are not of record here.  These
records should be obtained for consideration of the issues on
appeal and of the unemployability issue.  In addition, a new VA
examination should be conducted.

In view of the foregoing, the Board concludes that further RO
actions, as specified below, are necessary.  Accordingly, the
case is REMANDED to the RO for the following actions:

1.  The RO should contact the SSA and
request copies of the records upon which the
award to grant disability benefits was
based, including all medical records.

2.  The RO should contact the veteran and
request that he identify the names,
addresses, and approximate dates of
treatment for all VA and non-VA health care
providers who have treated him for low back
disability, psychotic depression with
tension headaches, bursitis of the right
shoulder, bilateral pes planus, and sinus
tachycardia in recent years.  With any
necessary authorization from the veteran,
the RO should attempt to obtain copies of
pertinent treatment records identified by
the veteran which have not been previously
secured.

3.  Then, the RO should arrange for a VA
examination of the veteran, by a board
certified orthopedist, if available, to
determine the current nature and extent of
his low back disability, bursitis of the
right shoulder, and bilateral pes planus.
All indicated studies should be performed.
It is imperative that the claims folder and
a copy of this Remand be provided to the
examining physician for review prior to the
examination.  The examiner is requested to
provide an opinion, with detailed rationale,
as to the effect of the veteran's
disabilities on his industrial capacity.

4.  The RO should arrange for a VA
examination of the veteran, by a board
certified psychiatrist, if available, to
determine the current nature and extent of
his psychotic depression with tension
headaches.  All indicated studies should be
performed.  It is imperative that the claims
folder and a copy of this Remand be provided
to the examining physician for review prior
to the examination.  The examiner is
requested to provide an opinion, with
detailed rationale, as to the effect of the
veteran's psychiatric disability on his
industrial capacity.

5.  The RO should arrange for a VA
examination of the veteran, by a board
certified cardiologist, if available, to
determine the current nature and extent of
his sinus tachycardia.  All indicated
studies should be performed.  It is
imperative that the claims folder and a copy
of this Remand be provided to the examining
physician for review prior to the
examination.  The examiner is requested to
provide an opinion, with detailed rationale,
as to the effect of the veteran's heart
disability on his industrial capacity.

6.  The RO should develop and adjudicate the
issue of entitlement to a total rating based
on individual unemployability undertaking
any other indicated development, to include
providing the veteran with other appropriate
VA examinations if so indicated.

7.  The RO should then readjudicate the
issues on appeal.

If any of the foregoing claims is not granted to the veteran's
satisfaction, the veteran and his representative should be issued
a supplemental statement of the case on all issues in appellate
status and be afforded a reasonable opportunity to reply.
Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board for further
appellate consideration, if otherwise in order.

In taking this action, the Board implies no conclusion as to any
ultimate outcome warranted.  No action is required of the veteran
until he is otherwise notified by the RO.

          F. JUDGE FLOWERS
          Member, Board of Veterans' Appeals

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

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).