BVA9506316 
DOCKET NO.  93-14 171     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Albuquerque,
New Mexico

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased rating for thrombophlebitis of the
left lower extremity, currently evaluated as 10 percent
disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by:  Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

B. Anderson, Counsel

REMAND

The appellant had active duty from September 1956 to December
1975.

This appeal arises from a September 1992 rating decision of the
Albuquerque, New Mexico, regional office (RO).  In pertinent
part, that decision denied an increased rating for the
appellant's service-connected thrombophlebitis of the left lower
extremity.

In a statement dated in January 1992, a service department
physician reported that the appellant's thrombophlebitis was
recurrent, severe, with venous insufficiency requiring chronic
anticoagulation, and chronic edema with venous stasis ulcer.  The
service department physician reported that the veteran had been
followed by her in Internal Medicine over the last three years.
These records have not been obtained and added to the records
assembled for appellate review; they would be helpful in
evaluating the disability in relation to its history and should
be obtained.  38 C.F.R. § 4.1 (1994).  Additionally, it is the
opinion of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) that the report
of disability evaluation examination by the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) in August 1992 is inadequate for rating
purposes in that the extent of swelling and pigment changes were
not recorded.

To ensure that VA has met its duty to assist the claimant in
developing the facts pertinent to the claim, the case is REMANDED
to the RO for the following development:

1.  The RO should request the veteran to
provide the names and addresses of all
health care providers who have treated him
for thrombophlebitis since January 1992,
specifying the approximate dates of
treatment, if possible.  Then, after any
necessary authorization is obtained from
him, the RO should obtain copies of any
treatment records identified by him which
have not already been associated with the
claims folder.  The RO should ensure that
all medical records from Cannon Air Force
Base, particularly records of Susan Melton,
M.D., for 1989 and thereafter, be obtained
and associated with the claims file.

2.  The appellant should be afforded a VA
examination to determine the current extent
of the service-connected thrombophlebitis.
The claims folder must be made available to
the examiner for review before the exami-
nation.  The examination should be
conducted in accordance with the VA's Phy-
sician's Guide for Disability Evaluation
Examinations (1985).  The examiner should
review the historical data contained in the
claims folder and elicit from the veteran
details concerning the severity and
persistence of swelling of the leg or
thigh, as well as the severity and
frequency of pain.  All indicated special
tests and studies should be conducted, such
as Trendelenburg's and Perthes' tests.
Clinical findings should be reported in
detail, to include the extent and severity
of swelling and pigment changes.  The
examiner should discuss how this condition
impacts on the veteran's ability to work.

3.  Thereafter, the RO should readjudicate
the veteran's claim.  The rating should
reflect consideration of the applicability
of the provisions of 38 C.F.R.
§§ 3.321(b)(1) and 4.7 (1994).

If the benefit sought is not granted to the veteran's
satisfaction, a supplemental statement of the case should be
issued and he and his representative should be provided with the
applicable time period in which to respond.  The case should then
be returned to the Board for further consideration, if otherwise
in order.  By this REMAND, the Board intimates no opinion as to
any final outcome warranted.  No action is required of the
veteran until he is notified by the RO.

          GARY L. GICK
          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) (1994).