BVA9500342 
DOCKET NO.  93-05 446     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's
death.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Christopher Maynard, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active service from September 1973 to October
1982.  The record also indicates that the veteran had more than
11 years and 11 months of prior active service.

The appellant asserts that the veteran's death in December 1991
was due, in large part, to his service-connected hypertension.
It is argued that hypertension can cause diabetes, renal failure,
and other cardiac problems and that the medications the veteran
took for control of his hypertension may have also played a
significant part in bringing about his death.

The representative points out that the veteran's terminal
hospital reports are not part of the record and argues that the
VA has a duty to obtain those records prior to rendering a
decision.

The Certificate of Death reflects that the veteran expired at
Womack Army Medical Center on December 25, 1991, from respiratory
failure due to renal failure/anasarca due to Amyloidosis.  A
Supplemental Report of Cause of Death, dated in January 1992,
showed hypertension as a contributing factor in causing the
veteran's death.

A letter from Casualty Clerk of Womack Army Medical Center, dated
in January 1992, indicated that a review of the veteran's medical
records at that facility showed that his hypertension had been
controlled since approximately 1981 with Lasix and Hctz.

In light of the appellant's contentions and the current evidence
of record, it is the decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals
(Board) that further development is necessary prior to appellate
review.  Accordingly, the case is REMANDED to the RO for the
following actions:

1.  The RO should take appropriate steps to
obtain all available treatment records for
the period 1987 through 1991, including the
terminal hospital reports from Womack Army
Medical Center; Fayetteville, North
Carolina, VA Medical Center; and Walter
Reed Army Hospital, and associate them with
the claims folder.

2.  Thereafter, the claims folder should be
forwarded to an appropriate VA specialist,
who, after careful review of the entire
record, should express an opinion as to the
medical probability that the service-
connected hypertension or the medications
prescribed to the veteran for hypertension
contributed materially or substantially to
bring about his death.  The examiner should
provide a detailed explanation for his
conclusions.  The report should be typed or
otherwise recorded in a legible manner for
review purposes.

3.  After the development requested above
has been completed, the RO should again
review the record.  If the benefit sought
on appeal remains denied, the appellant and
her representative should be furnished a
supplemental statement of the case 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.

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

          J. U. JOHNSON
          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).