BVA9500176 
DOCKET NO.  93-05 167     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg,
Florida

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for a right knee
disability.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for a low back disability.

3.  Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss
disability.

4.  Entitlement to an increased rating for residuals of right
lateral sinus thrombosis manifested by headaches, right ear
tinnitus, dizziness, and a history of blurred vision in the right
eye, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Mark D. Hindin, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from July 1980 to February 1986,
and from January 1988 to April 1992.

This matter arises from a July 1992, rating decision in which the
regional office (RO) granted service connection for residuals of
thrombosis of the right lateral sinus manifested by headaches,
tinnitus of the right ear, dizziness, and history of blurred
vision in the right eye with a10 percent evaluation; and denied
entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability,
low back disability and bilateral hearing loss disability.

REMAND

It appears that only service medical records from the veteran's
second period of active service have been secured.  The veteran
indicates that he may have been treated for some of the claimed
disabilities during the first period of active service.  The
veteran also had a period of service with Reserve unit.  Such
records would be of assistance in considering the history of his
service connected disability.  VA may have a duty to secure those
records.  Murphy v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 78 (1990).

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

1.  The RO should take all necessary steps
to secure service medical records
pertaining to the veteran's first period of
active duty, from July 1980 to February
1986, and associate any records so obtained
with the claims folder.

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

3.  The veteran should be afforded VA
examination, including any indicated
specialized examinations, in order to
evaluate the current nature and severity of
his service connected residuals of
thrombosis of the right lateral sinus.  Any
indicated diagnostic studies should be
performed

If after completion of the requested development the benefits
sought have 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.