BVA9504327 
DOCKET NO.  93-02 600     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Waco, Texas

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to an increased (compensable) rating for otitis
media of the left ear.

2.  Entitlement to an increased (compensable) rating for hearing
loss of the left ear.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Bernard T. DoMinh, Associate Counsel
INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from July 1937 to July 1940 and
from September 1940 to August 1945.

This matter comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on
appeal from a rating decision by the Waco, Texas, Regional Office
(RO) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which denied the
veteran's claims for compensable ratings for his service-
connected otitis media and hearing loss of his left ear.

The veteran also appears to be claiming service connection for
tinnitus in an October 1992 letter.  As this issue has not yet
been adjudicated, it is referred to the RO for additional
development and consideration.

REMAND

A September 1992 VA ear examination, for evaluation of his
chronic suppurative otitis media, showed no active suppurative
process in his left ear.

However, in his letter of October 1993, the veteran stated that
he had a persistent infection in both of his ears, with more
severe symptoms in his left and was being treated by a physician,
Dr. Cresent Mendez, who had prescribed medication.  These records
need to be obtained.

As the ear infection described by the veteran may be related to
his service-connected otitis media of the left ear, and because
the veteran has alleged the existence of current medical records
which are relevant to one of his claims and are not on file,
further development of the case is required.

Hence, the case is REMANDED for the following development:

1.  The RO should ask the veteran to provide
the names and addresses of all medical care
providers, both private and VA, who treated
him for hearing and ear problems, including
otitis media, since his last VA compensation
examination in September 1992.  After
securing the necessary release forms, the RO
should obtain these records, including those
from the physician identified as Dr. Cresent
Mendez, pursuant to the procedures set forth
in 38 C.F.R. § 3.159 (1993).

2.  The RO should also schedule the veteran
for an audiological examination to evaluate
the severity of his service-connected
hearing loss of his left ear.  All indicated
tests should be performed.  An ear
examination should also be provided to
evaluate the severity of his service-
connected otitis media.  The physician
should indicate whether the suppurative
process is continuing.  The veteran's
claims folder must be made available to
the examiners for review.

Thereafter, the RO should review the claims for increased
(compensable) evaluations for otitis media and hearing loss of
the left ear.  If the veteran is dissatisfied with the decision,
he and his representative should be issued a supplemental
statement of the case and given an opportunity to respond.  Then
the case should be returned to the Board.

          M. CHEEK
          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) (1994).