BVA9500296 
DOCKET NO.  93-04 069     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in New Orleans,
Louisiana

THE ISSUES

1. Entitlement to service connection for a left hip disorder, a
left knee disorder, an eye disorder, and a genitourinary
disorder.

2.  Entitlement to increased (compensable) ratings for right ear
hearing loss, tinnitus, and a calcaneal spur of the right heel.

REPRESENTATION

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

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Joseph P. Gervasio, Jr., Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from January 1968 to August
1970, from May 1975 to May 1978, and from October 1979 to October
1991.

This case comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on
appeal of a May 1992 rating decision of the New Orleans,
Louisiana, Regional Office (RO) of the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA).  The RO denied the various claims listed on the
cover page.

REMAND

The file indicates that the VA has a duty to further assist the
veteran in developing facts pertinent to his well-grounded claim
(i.e., a claim which is not inherently implausible) for service
connection for a genitourinary disorder.  38 U.S.C.A.
§ 5107(a)(West 1991); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.103(a), 3.159 (1993).  This
duty includes obtaining all relevant medical records.  Murphy v.
Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 78 (1990).

In correspondence received at the Board in 1993 and 1994, the
veteran indicated that he was currently receiving treatment from
a private physician, William Benjamin, III, M.D., for a prostate
condition.  He was treated for prostatitis (and other
genitourinary problems) while on active duty and this condition
was diagnosed by history on VA examination in March 1992.  The
treatment records are relevant and should be obtained.

In view of the foregoing, the case is REMANDED for the following
action:

The RO should obtain copies of all records
of treatment rendered to the veteran for
prostatitis or other genitourinary problems
by William Benjamin, III, M.D., 5130 Duke
Street, Suite 7, Alexandria, Virginia
22304.

When this action is completed, the claim for service connection
for a genitourinary disorder should be reviewed by the RO.  Should
the decision remain adverse, the veteran and his representative
should be furnished a supplemental statement of the case and
afforded an opportunity to respond.  Thereafter, the case should
be returned to this Board for further appellate consideration.
The remaining issues on appeal must be held in abeyance pending
the completion of the above requested development.

          L. W. TOBIN
          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).