BVA9508228 
DOCKET NO.  93-13 010     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Indianapolis,
Indiana

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for residuals of right and
left knee injuries.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for residuals of a back
injury.

3.  Entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and
tinnitus.

REPRESENTATION

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

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from July 1967 to April 1969.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)
on appeal from a December 1991 rating decision of the Department
of veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Indianapolis,
Indiana, that denied service connection for hearing loss and
tinnitus. The veteran has also appealed a February 1992 rating
decision by the RO denying service connection for disability of
the knees and back.

REMAND

Review of the file in this case reveals that the veteran has
submitted evidence directly to the Board without waiver of RO
consideration.  Also, when the RO previously attempted to obtain
medical records from the Navy, the Navy advised that the Federal
Archives Records Center, GSA, St. Louis, Missouri, should be
contacted.  It is not clear to the Board whether that center is
the same as the National Personnel Records Center.  If not, it
must be contacted for the veteran's records.  Finally, it is
noted that although service connection was denied for a right
knee injury by an unappealed rating decision of January 1985, the
RO has not stated whether the veteran has submitted new and
material evidence to reopen the claim, even though it has been
considered de novo.  There is additional development necessary
which will be described below.  Accordingly,  the case is
REMANDED for the following:

1.  The RO should contact the Federal
Archives Records Center, GSA, St. Louis
Missouri, for any additional service
medical records pertaining to the veteran.

2.  The veteran should be asked to submit
or identify evidence showing that he has
hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disorder,
or knee disorders related to service.  The
RO should obtain any evidence identified.

3.  The RO should contact the Red Cross in
Evansville, Indiana to obtain any reports
or other documents related to the
veteran's participation in the Vietnam
Head Injury Study conducted by the Walter
Reed Medical Center in the 1980's.
Reportedly, the veteran was interviewed
for the study by Ella Cobb of the Red
Cross.  If such records are not on file at
the Red Cross, that organization should be
asked where they might be located.  The RO
should follow any leads.

4.  The RO should then review the claims
in light of the new evidence developed and
the evidence that was submitted directly
to the Board.  In regard to any well-
grounded claim, the RO should develop the
claim further, if necessary, including a
VA examination if also deemed necessary,
to decide the case.  If any benefit sought
remains denied, the veteran and his
representative should be furnished a
supplemental statement of the case, with
opportunity to respond.

The case should then be returned to the board.  The veteran need
take no action until notified.

          JANE E. SHARP
          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.
(Continued on next page)
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) (1994).