BVA9501984 
DOCKET NO.  93-11 200     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Waco, Texas

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for a back disorder.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: American Red Cross

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Alice A. Booher, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from June 1973 to June 1975, and
from September 1982 to July 1, 1992.

This appeal is from a rating action by the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Waco, Texas, in September
1992.

REMAND

The veteran's initial claim for service connection for back and
foot disorders was received at the RO on July 20, 1992, less than
3 weeks after his separation from service.  Service connection
has been established for status, post plantar fascia release with
fasciitis and calcaneal spur, left foot, with arthroplasties,
proximal phalangeal joint, 5th digit, bilateral, evaluated as 10
percent disabling.

Service medical records reflect evaluation for back pain in
service concurrent with anesthesia given at the time of surgical
procedures on his feet.  The veteran avers that he has continued
to have back problems ever since.  In his Substantive Appeal, he
argued that the RO denied his claim based on an examination in
1991, when his service records showed recurring back complaints
on several occasions thereafter in 1992.  He avers that he
continues to have back problems, and that he is entitled to a VA
examination and treatment for his problems, as well as vocational
rehabilitation as a result.

Given the evidence of record, the Board finds that it is
reasonable to REMAND the case for additional development as
follows:

The veteran should be afforded a VA medical
examination to determine the nature and
extent of all current back complaints,
their diagnoses and etiology.  All
necessary laboratory and other testing
including X-rays should be conducted.  The
claims folder must be made available to the
examiner prior to evaluating the veteran's
case.

Thereafter, the case should be reviewed by the RO using all
evidence of record as well as applying all pertinent regulations.
If the decision remains adverse to the appellant, a supplemental
statement of the case should be provided, and the veteran and his
representative should be afforded the opportunity to respond.
Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board for further
appellate review.  The veteran need do nothing further until so
notified.

          RENÉE M. PELLETIER
          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).