BVA9500954 
DOCKET NO.  93-11 410     )       DATE
          )
          )

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

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to special monthly pension based on the need for
regular aid and attendance of another person.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Texas Veterans Commission

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Anna Bryant, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active military service from November 1969 to
February 1973.

This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals
(hereinafter Board) on appeal from an October 1992 rating
decision of the Houston, Texas, Regional Office (RO) of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which denied the veteran's
claim seeking entitlement to special monthly pension based on the
need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

REMAND

The veteran and his representative contend that entitlement to
special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and
attendance is warranted inasmuch as the veteran needs assistance
in the activities of daily living.  It is maintained that he is
limited in his ability to function as a result of severe mental
impairment.  Review of the evidentiary record reflects that the
veteran has not been accorded a VA medical examination in
connection with the current claim for the purpose of determining
the nature and severity of his nonservice-connected disabilities.

Under the circumstances of this case, the Board concludes that
additional medical development of the record would be beneficial
prior to appellate disposition. Accordingly, further appellate
consideration will be deferred and the case is REMANDED to the RO
for the following action:

1.  The veteran should be requested to
identify all sources of recent treatment
received for his nonservice-connected
disabilities, and to furnish signed
authorizations for release to the VA of
private medical records in connection with
each non-VA source she identifies.  Copies
of the medical records from all sources she
identifies (not already in the claims
folder) should then be requested.  All
records obtained should be added to the
claims folder.

2.  The RO should schedule the veteran for
a comprehensive medical examination for the
purpose of determining his need for regular
aid and attendance of another person.  VA
Form 21-2680 should be used to report the
results.  The examination should include a
psychiatric evaluation to determine the
current degree of severity associated with
the veteran's chronic paranoid
schizophrenia.  All indicated tests and
studies should be performed and reported in
accordance with the VA I[nformation]
B[ulletin] 11-56 Physician's Guide for
Disability Evaluation Examinations (March
1, 1985).  The claims folder should be made
available and reviewed by the examiner(s)
prior to the examination of the veteran.
In addition, the examiner(s) should render
opinions as to whether the veteran is in
need of the regular aid and attendance of
another person.

After the above development has been completed, the RO should
review the evidence and determine whether the veteran's claim may
now be granted.  If the determination remains adverse to the
veteran, he and his representative should be furnished a
supplemental statement of the case which summarizes the pertinent
evidence, fully cites the applicable legal provisions and
reflects detailed reasons and bases for the decision reached.

The veteran and his representative should be given the
opportunity to respond thereto.  Thereafter, the case should be
returned to the Board for further appellate consideration, if
otherwise in order, following appropriate appellate procedures.
The purpose of the REMAND is to further develop the record.  The
Board does not

intimate any opinion, either factual or legal, as to the ultimate
disposition warranted in this case.  No action is required of the
veteran until he receives further notice.

          ALBERT D. TUTERA
          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 action has been taken in
accordance with the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1994,
Pub. L. No. 103-446, § 303, 108 Stat. 4645, ___ (1994), and 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).