BVA9504369 
DOCKET NO.  93-09 334     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Phoenix,
Arizona

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for a chronic left knee
disability.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Robert A. Leaf, Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active duty from August 1986 to August 1990.  A
July 1992 rating decision of the Phoenix, Arizona Regional Office
(RO) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) denied service
connection for a left knee disability.  This appeal to the Board
of Veterans' Appeals (Board) stems from that action.

Service medical records disclose episodes of left knee pain
associated with athletic activity, and the assessment in one
instance was that the veteran had experienced knee sprain.
Postservice medical records reflect a reported twisting injury to
the left knee in October 1991 during sports.  A VA examiner
indicated the possibility of chronic anterior collateral ligament
deficiency involving the left knee.  Magnetic resonance imaging
of the left knee revealed torn ligaments and post-traumatic
contusion of the femoral condyles.  Reconstructive surgery of the
left anterior collateral ligament was performed in February 1992.

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

1.  The RO should obtain the names and
addresses of all medical care providers who
treated the veteran for any knee
disabilities at any time prior to and since
service.  After securing the necessary
release, the RO should obtain these
records.

2.  After completion of the above
development, the veteran should be accorded
a VA examination by a board-certified
orthopedist, if available, to determine the
nature and extent of current left knee
disability.  The examination should be
conducted by a physician other than the
physician who examined the veteran in
February 1992.  The examiner should be
specifically requested to provide an
opinion as to a relationship, if any,
between manifestations of damage to the
left knee, first documented following an
apparent postservice twisting injury, and
left knee symptoms noted during service.
The claims folder should be made available
to the examiner for review before the
examination.

3.  After RO review, if the decision
remains adverse to the veteran, a
supplemental statement of the case should
be furnished and he and his representative
provided an opportunity for response.

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.

          D. C. SPICKLER
          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).