BVA9502977 
DOCKET NO.  93-05 118     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Washington, DC

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for a right hip disorder.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for a back disorder.

3.  Entitlement to service connection for a right foot disorder.

4.  Entitlement to service connection for a left foot disorder.

5.  Entitlement to an increased evaluation for residuals of a
fracture of the right ankle with degenerative changes, currently
rated as 20 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

The veteran

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

John D. Nachmann, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active military service from December 1942 to
September 1944.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)
on appeal from rating decisions of August 1987 and June 1990 by
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Washington, DC, Regional
Office (RO).

During the veteran's January 1994 personal hearing, the veteran's
representative stated that the RO improperly combined the
evaluations assigned to the veteran's service-connected
disabilities in an April 1988 rating decision.  This issue has
not been developed or certified for appellate consideration and
is therefore referred to the RO for appropriate action.

REMAND

The veteran contends that the disorders for which he is seeking
service connection were incurred during service or are the result
of disorders for which service connection has already been
established.  The evidence of record, however, indicates that the
RO has not considered service connection on a secondary basis in
the development of the veteran's claims.

The Board further notes that in March 1994, evidence was
submitted to the Board that had not been previously considered by
the RO.

Therefore, in order to give the veteran every consideration with
respect to the present appeal, it is the Board's opinion that
further development of the case is warranted.  Accordingly, this
case is REMANDED for the following actions:

1.  The veteran should be afforded a
special orthopedic examination in order to
determine the nature and severity of the
residuals of the fracture of his right
ankle as well as the nature, extent, and
etiology of any right hip, back, and
bilateral foot disorders.  The examiner
should express an opinion as to the degree
of probability, if any, that any current
right hip, back, and bilateral foot
disorders are related to the injuries the
veteran sustained in the airplane accident
in which he was involved during service or
to the service-connected residuals of his
bilateral ankle fractures.  The claims file
or copies of all relevant records therein
must be made available to the examiner
prior to and during the examination for a
complete study of the case.

2.  After the development in the above
paragraph has been completed, the case
should again be reviewed by the RO on the
basis of all of the evidence that has been
associated with the veteran's claims file
since the December 1991 supplemental
statement of the case was issued.  If the
determinations remain adverse to the
veteran, the case should be returned to the
Board after compliance with the provisions
for processing appeals including the
issuance of a supplemental statement of the
case that addresses the laws and
regulations pertaining to secondary service
connection, and provision of the applicable
time period for response thereto.

The purpose of this REMAND is to obtain additional development,
and the Board does not intimate any opinion as to the merits of
the case, either favorable or unfavorable, at this time.  No
action is required of the veteran until he is notified.

          WARREN W. RICE, JR.
          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).