BVA9506150 
DOCKET NO.  91-38 096     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg,
Florida

THE ISSUES

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

2.  Entitlement to an increased evaluation for arteriosclerotic
heart disease with hypertension, currently evaluated as 30
percent disabling.

3.  Entitlement to a compensable evaluation for defective
hearing.

4.  Entitlement to a compensable evaluation for chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease.

5.  Entitlement to a compensable evaluation for the residuals of
a left wrist fracture.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESSES AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant and wife.

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Joseph Horrigan, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from February 1946 to September
1947 and from November 1979 to November 1987.  He also served in
the Army National Guard for more than 26 years and 9 months.

This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)
from a January 1990 rating decision of the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The veteran appeared and gave testimony at a hearing at the RO in
December 1990 and a transcript of that hearing is of record.

This case was remanded by the Board for further development in
June 1992 and December 1993.  It is before the Board for
appellate consideration at this time.

REMAND

It does not appear from the record that the veteran's claims
folder is complete and ready for appellate review at this time.
In the report of the VA examination of April 1994, the evaluating
physician refers to the claims folder as having "two volumes
about 3'' thick".  Only one volume of the claims folder, as well
as the veteran's vocational rehabilitation folder, is currently
available for review.  The record does not reflect consideration
of service medical records.  The Board also notes in this regard
that, despite over nine years of active duty and almost 27 years
service with the Massachusetts National Guard, no medical records
from the service department are in the claims folder aside from a
brief report of a Medical Evaluation Board dated in December
1986.

In view of the foregoing, and given the duty to assist the
veteran in the development of his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5107
(West 1991), this case is remanded to the RO for the following
action:

1.  The RO should obtain the second volume
of the veteran's claims folder, if
existent, and associate it with the record
now available.

2.  Then, if not of record, the RO should
contact the Service Department and request
that a search be conducted for all service
medical records for both of the veteran's
periods of active duty as well as for all
periods of active duty for training and
inactive duty for training with the
Massachusetts National Guard.  All records
obtained should be associated with the
claims folder.

3.  Then, after any further development
deemed appropriate, the RO should again
adjudicate the veteran's claim.  The
rating decision should reflect
consideration of all potentially
applicable criteria, to include
consideration of the applicability of 38
C.F.R. § 3.321(b)(1).  If these benefits
are not granted to the veteran's
satisfaction, he and his representative
should be provided a supplemental
statement of the case and afforded a
reasonable opportunity to respond.

Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board for further
consideration, if appropriate.  By this remand, the Board
intimates no opinion as to the outcome warranted in this case.
No action is required of the veteran until he is so informed by
the RO.

          BARBARA B. COPELAND
          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) (1994).