BVA9503929 
DOCKET NO.  93-14 924     )       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 hypertension.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Mark J. Swiatek, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran's active duty from February 1982 to February 1985 and
from April 1985 to December 1989 has been verified.  This matter
comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a
December 1992 decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Regional Office (RO) in St. Petersburg, Florida.

In a January 1993 communication to the RO, the veteran raised the
additional issues of service connection for hemorrhoids and a
skin disorder.  These matters have not been developed for review
and are referred to the RO for appropriate action.

REMAND

The Board observes that the veteran's claims for service
connection of hypertension, or "high blood pressure" and a left
knee disability have been adjudicated without benefit of complete
service medical records or a thorough, contemporaneous VA medical
examination.  The separation medical examination is not on file.
In his appeal to the Board, the veteran has asserted that his
blood pressure was "high" on that examination and on an
examination for employment.  The service medical records show
blood pressure of 140/90 and 142/90 in October 1989 and 140/90 in
November 1989.

In view of the foregoing, and to ensure that the VA has met its
duty to assist the claimant in developing the facts pertinent to
the claim and to ensure full compliance with due process
requirements, it is the opinion of the Board that additional
development, as set forth below, is desirable.  Accordingly, the
case is REMANDED to the RO for the following development

1.  The RO should make another attempt to
secure the veteran's complete, original
service medical records through official
channels.

2.  The RO should obtain the names and
addresses of all medical care providers who
treated the veteran for high blood pressure
and a left knee disorder since service.
After securing the necessary release, the
RO should obtain these records.  This
should include the preemployment medical
examination mentioned by the veteran in his
appeal to the Board.

3.  The veteran should then be afforded VA
cardiology, and orthopedic examinations to
determine the nature and extent of any
hypertension and a left knee disorder.  The
claims folder should be made available to
each examiner for review before the
examination.  Any special studies deemed
necessary should be conducted.  If
hypertension and/or a chronic left knee
disability is present, the examiners should
be requested to render and opinion, with
supporting rationale, as to the degree of
probability, if any, that hypertension or a
left knee disability is related to the
blood pressure readings reported during
service or a left knee injury in service,
respectively.

4.  Thereafter, in light of the additional
evidence obtained, the RO should
readjudicate the issues of service
connection of hypertension and a left knee
disability.

A supplemental statement of the case addressing all issues in
appellate status should then be prepared and furnished to the
veteran and his representative.  They should be provided the
applicable period in which to respond.  Thereafter, in accordance
with the proper appellate procedures, the case should be returned
to the Board for further appellate review, if otherwise in order.
In taking this action, the Board implies no conclusion, either
legal or factual, as to any final outcome warranted.  No action
is required of the veteran until he is otherwise notified by the
RO.

          CHARLES E. HOGEBOOM
          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 deter-
mination.  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 action has been taken in
accordance with the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1994,
Pub. L. No. 103-446, § 303, 108 Stat. 4645,      (1994) and 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).