BVA9506315 
DOCKET NO.  93-11 166     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St.
Paul, Minnesota

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased rating for the service-connected
residuals of a right medial meniscectomy, currently rated as 10
percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

The veteran.

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active duty from March 1973 to May 1983.

This matter comes on appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals
(Board) on appeal from a July 1992 RO decision which reduced to
the rating assigned for the service-connected right knee disorder
from 20 to 10 percent, effective on October 1, 1992.  The 20
percent rating had been in effect since October 25, 1990.

An April 1993 rating decision denied entitlement to service
connection for a low back disorder.  This matter has not been
developed for appellate review and is referred back to the RO for
appropriate action.

REMAND

The veteran feels that the recent reduction in his rating from 20
to 10 percent was unfair because he is experiencing the same
symptoms.  He notes that the knee has a tendency to give out and
causes him to fall.  The veteran's representative feels that the
recent rating examination was inadequate for the purpose of
reducing the rating and requests that another evaluation be
performed to determine the severity of the service-connected
condition.  The Board also requests that records referable to any
recent treatment be obtained for review.

To ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has met
its duty to assist the claimant in developing the facts pertinent
to the claim and to ensure full compliance with due process
requirements, the case is REMANDED to the regional office (RO)
for the following development:

1.  The RO should take appropriate steps to
obtain copies of all clinical records
dealing with treatment

received by the veteran for his service-
connected right knee disorder since 1992.
After the RO obtains these records, they
should be incorporated into the claims
folder.

2.  The veteran should be afforded a VA
orthopedic examination in order to
ascertain the current severity of the
service-connected right knee disorder.  All
indicated testing should be done in this
regard.  The claims folder should be made
available to the examiner for review before
the examination, and the examiner should
record detailed clinical findings,
including actual range of motion
measurements.  The evaluation should be
performed in accordance with the provisions
of the VA's Physician's Guide for
Disability Evaluation Examinations (IB 11-
56, March 1, 1985).  Based on his
evaluation and review of the evidence of
record, the examiner should state whether
the veteran is experiencing any degree of
instability, actual cartilage dislocation,
episodes of locking, effusion or functional
limitation as the result of the service-
connected right knee disorder.

3.  After the development requested above
has been completed to the extent possible,
the RO should again review the veteran's
claim.  If the benefit sought on appeal
remains denied, the appellant and
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.

          STEPHEN L. WILKINS
          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).