BVA9504457 
DOCKET NO.  93-21 451     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Nashville,
Tennessee

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Margaret L. Peak, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active duty for training from July to December
1958, and active duty from April 1959 to September 1966.  This
matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on
appeal from October 1992 and April 1993 decisions of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in
Nashville, Tennessee.  A hearing was held before a member of the
Board at the RO in September 1993.

REMAND

The veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder is
based, in part, upon his exposure to Agent Orange during service.
The RO has not adjudicated this claim under the new regulatory
criteria applicable to claims based upon exposure to Agent
Orange.  Moreover, the Board believes that further evidential
development is warranted.  Accordingly, the case is REMANDED to
the RO for the following actions:

1.  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 may possess additional records
pertinent to his claim.  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.

2.  The RO should also request that the
veteran state when and where he underwent a
VA Agent Orange examination in 1981.  When
the requested information has been received,
the RO should attempt to obtain a copy of
the report of this examination.

3.  Any other development deemed appropriate
by the RO should also be undertaken.

4.  The RO should then readjudicate the
issue on appeal, with consideration to the
new Agent Orange criteria found at 59 Fed.
Reg. 5106 (1994)(to be codified at 38 C.F.R.
§§ 3.307, 3.309).

If the benefit sought on appeal is not granted to the veteran's
satisfaction, the veteran and his representative should be given
a supplemental statement of the case and afforded an opportunity
to respond.  Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board
for further appellate consideration, if otherwise in order.  No
action by the veteran or his representative is required until
further notice is received.

          J. J. SCHULE    SHANE A. DURKIN

          GARY GICK

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).