BVA9506173 
DOCKET NO.  93-13 082     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg,
Florida

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased (compensable) rating for bulbar
urethral stricture, status post excision, with primary re-
anastomosis.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Non Commissioned Officers
Association of the U.S.A.

INTRODUCTION

The appellant served on active duty from November 1983 to January
1990.

This appeal arises from a December 1992 decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) St. Petersburg, Florida,
Regional Office (RO), denying an increased (compensable) rating
for bulbar urethral stricture, status post excision, with primary
re-anastomosis.  The veteran indicated in a May 1993 statement
that he no longer wished to pursue the issue of an increased
rating for a right radical orchiectomy, as he understood the
basis for the rating action.  Therefore, that issue will not be
addressed in this decision.

REMAND

The veteran has requested an increased (compensable) rating for
bulbar urethral stricture, status post excision, with primary re-
anastomosis.  He has maintained that the tender scar from the
October 1992 surgery should be rated separately from the urethral
stricture.  In his February 1993 substantive appeal, the veteran
reported that he underwent surgery in October 1992 at the Tampa
VA medical center for revision of the surgical scar.  He reported
the procedure left him with a large tender scar.  Further he was
unable to control or stop the stream of urine flow, and dribbles.
The veteran requested that all VA medical records from Pensacola,
Biloxi and Tampa be obtained for association with the claims
folder.  He has not been examined since the most recent surgery.

In 1994, the VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities, Ratings of
the Genitourinary System - Dysfunctions ( 38 C.F.R. § 4.115a) was
amended.  Those changes might possibly affect the veteran's
evaluation.

The VA has a duty to assist the appellant in the development of
facts pertinent to the claim.  38 U.S.C.A. § 5107(a) (West 1991).
Inasmuch as the veteran has not been afforded a VA medical
examination since his most recent surgery, the case is remanded
for the following:

1.  The veteran should be invited to submit
or identify any additional evidence,
including private medical reports, he
wishes to have considered.  If he chooses
to identify the evidence, he should provide
sufficient detail to allow VA personnel to
assist him in obtaining it.  If the
identified information is medical records
other than the VA's, he should be requested
to authorize the release of such records
and furnished the necessary forms to do so.
Any additional evidence the veteran wishes
to have considered should be obtained and
associated with the claims file.

2.  The RO is to obtain copies of all VA
medical records from Pensacola, Biloxi and
Tampa dated since 1990 for association
with the claims folder.

3.  The veteran is to be afforded a VA
genitourinary examination in keeping with
the criteria set out in VA's Physician
Guide for Disability Evaluation
Examinations, Chapter 8.  All indicated
tests and studies are to be performed.
The claims folder must be made available
and reviewed by the examiner prior to
examination for use in the study of the
case.

4.  Following completion of the
development, the RO is to review the
claim.  If the claim remains denied, the
veteran and her representative should be
furnished a supplemental statement of the
case.  They should be afforded the
appropriate period of time within which to
respond thereto, at their option, as
provided by governing regulation.

Thereafter, if otherwise in order, the case should be returned to
the Board after compliance with all requisite appellate
procedures.

RENÉE M. PELLETIER
Member, Board of Veterans' Appeals

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)
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).