BVA9507189 
DOCKET NO.  93-07 451     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in
Houston, Texas

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to an increased rating for the placement of a
pacemaker with hypertension, currently evaluated as 30 percent
disabling.

2.  Entitlement to a temporary total evaluation based on the need
for convalescence following surgery in January 1991 for the
replacement of the generator of the pacemaker.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Ripley P. Schoenberger, Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active duty from February 1960 to February 1963,
from April 1963 to July 1966, and from October 1966 to August
1980.

This appeal arises from a September 1991 rating decision by the
RO.

The veteran was hospitalized at an United States Air Force
Hospital in January 1991 for the replacement of the generator of
his pacemaker.  He maintains that this shows that his heart
disease is worse than the current evaluation indicates.  He
states that he receives treatment at the Wilford Hall United
States Air Force Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
The veteran was last afforded a VA cardiovascular examination in
April 1989, which is prior to the current claim, as well as
hospitalization and treatment for the service-connected
disability.  Further, the veteran has not been provided with the
rating criteria for the diagnostic codes under which his
disability has been rated.

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, the case is REMANDED to
the RO for the following development:

1.  The RO should take appropriate steps to
secure copies of all of the veteran's
outpatient treatment records at Wilford
Hall from February 1992 to the present.
When the copies of the records are received
they should be associated with the claims
folder.

2.  The veteran should be afforded a VA
cardiovascular examination to determine the
current severity of his service connected
heart disease.  All indicated studies in
this regard should be accomplished.  The
claims folder should be made available to
the examiner for review before the
examination.

3.  After the development requested above
has been completed, the RO should again
review the record.  If any benefits sought
on appeal remain denied, the appellant and
representative should be furnished a
supplemental statement of the case, to
include citation to appropriate provisions
of the diagnostic criteria under which the
disability is rated, and given the
opportunity to respond thereto.

Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board, if in
order.  The Board intimates no opinion as to the ultimate outcome
of this case.  The appellant need take no action unless otherwise
notified.

          BARBARA B. COPELAND
          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).