BVA9505812 
DOCKET NO.  93-10 670     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Louisville,
Kentucky

THE ISSUES

1.  Whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen
a claim for service connection for hearing loss disability.

2.  Entitlement to an increased (compensable) disability rating
for pes planus.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESSES AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant and his wife

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

T. Reichelderfer, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from April 1945 to October
1946.

This case arises from a rating decision of October 1990 from the
St. Louis, Missouri, Regional Office (RO).

REMAND

The veteran contends that his current hearing loss disability is
the result of noise exposure from explosive ordnance disposal
during service.  He also contends that his feet are painful and
that an increased rating is therefore warranted.  After a review
of the record, the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) is of the
opinion that additional development of the evidence and
adjudication is required prior to further consideration of this
claim.

The Board notes that medical records relating to hospitalization
of the veteran from 1982 to 1983 at a Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) were received at the RO in March
1993.  Those records have not been reviewed by the RO and are
related to a claim that is not the subject of this appeal.
However, those records contain evidence related to the veteran's
hearing loss and to his pes planus.  Pursuant to the provisions
of 38 C.F.R. § 19.37(a) (1994), this case must be returned to the
RO for a review of this evidence prior to further consideration
by the Board.

Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following:

The RO should review the veteran's claim,
including the 1982 and 1983 VAMC records
that were received in March 1993, and
determine if an increased disability rating
for pes planus can be granted.  The RO
should also review the 1982 and 1983
medical records that were received from the
VAMC in March 1993, in conjunction with the
evidence that has been received since July
1983, to determine if new and material
evidence has been received to reopen the
veteran's claim for service connection for
hearing loss disability.  If a decision
remains adverse to the veteran, he and his
representative should be provided with a
supplemental statement of the case, and
with a reasonable period of time within
which to respond thereto.  The case should
thereafter be returned to the Board for
further consideration as appropriate.

The Board intimates no opinion as to the ultimate outcome of this
case.  The veteran need take no action until he is so informed.
The purposes of this REMAND are to obtain additional evidence and
to ensure compliance with due process considerations.

          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.
                                                      (CONTINUED
ON NEXT PAGE)
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).