BVA9501875 
DOCKET NO.  93-07 275     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Montgomery,
Alabama

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to an increased rating for heart disease with
myocardial ischemia and residuals of coronary artery bypass
grafting, currently evaluated as 60 percent disabling.

2.  Entitlement to an increased rating for peripheral vascular
disease, classified as  arteriosclerosis and intermittent
claudication, currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling.

3.  Entitlement to a total rating for compensation purposes based
on individual unemployability.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Mark D. Hindin, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from November 1940 to September
1945 and from November 1945 to April 1971.

This matter arises from a September 1992, rating decision which
confirmed a 60 percent evaluation for organic heart disease and a
20 percent evaluation for arteriosclerosis, and denied
entitlement to a total rating for compensation purposes based on
individual unemployability.

REMAND

The veteran asserts that the most recent Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) examination in September 1992, was inadequate for
rating purposes.  The Board notes that the examiners did not
comment on whether the veteran was experiencing angina, or on
whether his heart disease precluded more than light manual labor,
factors which could warrant the award of an increased evaluation
for heart disease.  It also does not appear that the examiners
had access to the veteran's claims folder.

The veteran has received no recent examinations to determine the
severity of his other service connected disabilities; arthritis,
diabetes melitis, residuals of removal of a polyp from the
sigmoid colon with residuals of a colotomy, and high frequency
hearing loss disability.  The status of these disabilities is
relevant to his claim of entitlement to a total rating for
compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.  The
veteran has reported that he left his last employment due to his
service-connected disabilities.  No information has been obtained
from the veteran's employer.

In view of the foregoing it is necessary to REMAND this case for
the following:

1.  The RO should contact the veteran and
request that he furnish information as to
any recent treatment he has received for
the conditions at issue in this appeal.
The RO should then take all necessary steps
to obtain those records and associate them
with the claims folder.

2.  The RO should take all necessary steps
to obtain records pertaining to the veteran
from his last employer.  The employer
should be requested to supply information
as to the reasons for the veteran's
termination of employment.  Any records so
obtained, should be associated with the
claims folder.

3.  The veteran should then be afforded VA
heart, vascular, rheumatology, orthopedic,
internal medicine, gastrointestinal, and
hearing examinations, in order to determine
the nature and extent of disability
resulting from the service connected
disabilities.  The orthopedic examiner
should determine which of the veteran's
joints are affected by arthritis, determine
the type of arthritis in each joint, and
the limitation of motion resulting
from such arthritis.  The rheumatology
examiner should determine whether the
veteran currently has rheumatoid arthritis.
The cardiovascular examination should
include a full discussion of the veteran's
symptoms, including angina, if present.  A
functional and thera-peutic classification
such as that utilized by the
New York Heart Association should be
assigned.  It
is particularly important that the examiner
discuss the veteran's ability or lack of
ability to function as a result of his
heart disease.  All indicated diagnostic
studies
and additional specialized examinations
should be performed.  In order to evaluate
the disability in the context of its
history, the examiners should be provided
with the veteran's claims folder prior to
the examinations.

4.  The RO should then rate each of the
veteran's service-connected disabilities in
accordance with the provisions of Chapters
3 and 4 of 38 C.F.R. (1993).

If after completion of the requested development the benefit
sought has not been granted, the veteran and his representative
should be furnished with a supplemental statement of the case,
and be given a reasonable opportunity to respond.  Thereafter,
following compliance with all other procedures relative to the
processing of appeals, the case should be returned to the Board
for further appellate consideration of any issue for which a
valid substantive appeal has been submitted.  No action is
required of the veteran until he receives further notice.

          LAWRENCE M. SULLIVAN
          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).