BVA9502536 
DOCKET NO.  93-08 234     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Atlanta,
Georgia

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to a disability evaluation greater than 10
percent for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right
elbow.

2.  Entitlement to a compensable disability evaluation for
residuals of a shell fragment wound to occiput.

3.  Entitlement to a compensable disability evaluation for
hemorrhoids.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

R. J. Rolfsen, Jr., Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from August 1965 to August
1967.

This appeal stems from a May 1991 decision of the Atlanta,
Georgia, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office
(RO).

The veteran has requested service connection for hypertension and
a cataract removal.  He claims both are secondary to his
service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the
occiput.  Although these issues were denied by rating decision in
August 1992, a notice of disagreement with this decision has not
been received.  Thus, since these issues have not been certified
or developed for appeal and are not properly before the Board of
Veterans' Appeals (Board), they are hereby referred to the RO for
appropriate consideration.

The veteran has also requested service connection for a back
disorder.  This issue has not been certified or developed for
appeal, is not properly before the Board, and is hereby referred
to the RO for appropriate consideration.

REMAND

Initially, the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) finds that the
veteran's claim is "well grounded" within the meaning of 38
U.S.C.A. § 5107 (West 1991).  Therefore, the Board has a duty to
assist the veteran in order to ensure that all relevant evidence
has been properly developed.  Since all relevant evidence has not
been properly developed, a remand is necessary.

A review of the appellate record reflects that the veteran is
contending that the residuals of his service-connected shell
fragment wound to the occiput include headaches.  A review of the
service medical records reflects that the veteran was seen in
June 1966 for superficial shell fragment wounds to the scalp.
X-rays showed minimally depressed skull fractures in the right
inferior lateral portion of the occiput.  Although the examiner
at the January 1992 VA examination stated that the veteran's
headaches were not traumatic in origin and, thus not a residual
of his shell fragment wound to the occiput, this statement was
apparently based upon the veteran's statement that the missile
that caused this disability did not penetrate the skull and only
caused a laceration.  It is unclear whether the examining
physician reviewed the claims folder prior to the examination.
Also, since the veteran is requesting service connection for
headaches secondary to his shell fragment wound to the occiput,
this issue is inextricably intertwined with the issue on appeal.

Under these circumstances, this case is remanded for the
following action:

1.  The RO should ensure that copies of all
recent treatment records, both private and
VA, have been associated with the claims
folder.

2.  The RO should schedule the veteran for
a VA neurological examination to determine
whether his headaches are attributable to
his service-connected shell fragment wound
to the occiput.  All indicated special
studies should be accomplished and the
claims folder must be reviewed by the
examiner prior to the examination.

Following the completion of the requested development, the RO
should review the case.  If the claim remains denied, the case
should be returned to the Board following appropriate appellate
processing.  No action is required by the veteran until he
receives further notice.  No indication is made by this remand as
to the outcome warranted in this case.  Action on the veteran's
claims for increased disability evaluations for his residuals of
a shell fragment wound to the right elbow and hemorrhoids is
deferred pending the aforementioned development.

          ROBERT D. PHILIPP
          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).