BVA9507453 
DOCKET NO.  93-12 929     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Houston, Texas

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for a left hip disorder.

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

J. A. McDonald, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from August 1961 to August
1990.  This case comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals
(hereinafter Board) on appeal from the Department of Veterans
Affairs Regional Office in Houston, Texas (hereinafter RO).

REMAND

The veteran contends that while jogging in service, he incurred
left hip pain.  He stopped jogging, and the pain abated.
However, whenever he attempted to jog, the pain returned.  He
maintains that by the time he retired from the military, he
noticed pain in his left hip even when he was not jogging.

In reviewing the record, this panel of the Board notes that the
veteran was scheduled for a VA orthopedic examination with regard
to his left hip in May 1992.  A message in the file reflects that
the veteran withdrew his claim, and had moved.  A letter from the
veteran in May 1992 reflected he was withdrawing his appeal with
respect to other issues, but not the hip.  Moreover, inasmuch as
the veteran moved, it is unclear whether he actually received
timely notice of the examination.

In view of the foregoing, it is the opinion of the Board that
additional development is called for so that the VA complies with
the statutory duty to assist the veteran in proving his claim, 38
U.S.C.A. 5107 (1991).

Accordingly, the case is being REMANDED for the following action:

The veteran should be scheduled for an
orthopedic examination to determine whether
he manifests a disability of the left hip.
The examination should be conducted
consistent with the Physician's Guide for
Disability Evaluation Examinations.  The
claims folder should be made available to
the examiner for study prior to the
examination.

When the above development has been completed, the case should
again be reviewed by the originating agency.  If the decision
remains adverse to the veteran, he and his representative should
be furnished a Supplemental Statement of the Case and afforded a
reasonable period to respond.  Thereafter, subject to current
appellate procedures, the case should be returned to the Board
for further appellate consideration, if appropriate.

The veteran need take no action unless he is further informed.
The purpose of this REMAND is to obtain additional evidence and
no inference should be drawn regarding the final disposition of
the claim.

          E. W. SEERY
          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).