BVA9501411 
DOCKET NO.  93-08 061     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Boise, Idaho

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased evaluation for amputation of the
index and middle fingers of the left hand and trauma to the ring
finger of the left hand, currently evaluated at 30 percent.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

N. D. Walker, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active service from October 1958 to November
1962.

Our initial review of the claims file has disclosed that the
veteran's service-connected disability of the left hand includes
only amputation of the index and middle fingers and trauma to the
ring finger.  The veteran's representative has, essentially,
raised the issue of service connection for disability of the left
little finger.  Given the criteria for rating disability
involving multiple fingers found in the Schedule for Rating
Disabilities, the inferred issue of service connection for
disability of the left little finger is inextricably intertwined
with the issue currently before the Board of Veterans' Appeals
(Board).  Therefore, the issue must be adjudicated by the
regional office (RO) before the Board can proceed with
consideration of the current appeal.

In addition, a statement from the veteran's employer, dated in
April 1993, was sent directly to the Board after the claims
folder had been forwarded to the Board by the RO.  Initial
consideration of this pertinent evidence by the RO was not
waived.  Therefore, a remand is required so that the RO can
consider the additional evidence.  38 C.F.R. § 20.1304(c) (1993).

Accordingly, the case is remanded to the RO for the following
actions:

1.  After the necessary information and authorization
are obtained from the veteran, copies of all treatment
records for the veteran's disability of the left hand,
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or private,
inpatient or outpatient, since April 1992, should be
obtained by the RO and added to the claims file.  This
should include obtaining a copy of the report of the
X-ray study of the veteran's left hand which was
ordered by the April 1992 VA examiner.

2.  After the foregoing has been completed to the
extent possible, another examination of the veteran's
left hand should be conducted, if warranted.  The RO
should then adjudicate the issue of service connection
for disability of the veteran's left little finger and
review the evaluation of the veteran's service-
connected disability of the left hand, based on all of
the evidence of record.  If the decision on the issue
of service connection for disability of the left
little finger is favorable to the veteran, the RO
review of the issue of an increased evaluation for the
service-connected disability of the left hand should
include consideration of all applicable provisions of
38 C.F.R. § 4.71a pertaining to multiple finger
amputations, unfavorable ankylosis of multiple
fingers, and favorable ankylosis of multiple fingers,
with particular attention paid to Note (e) that is
included with the diagnostic codes for multiple finger
amputations and is found after Diagnostic Code 5151
and Notes (a) and (b) that are included with the
diagnostic codes pertaining to favorable ankylosis of
multiple fingers and are found after Diagnostic Code
5223.

If, after RO review, the decision remains adverse to the veteran,
a supplemental statement of the case, which includes all issues
for which a notice of disagreement has been filed and which
includes all pertinent law and regulations not previously
provided to the veteran, should be issued and the veteran and his
representative afforded an opportunity to respond.  Thereafter,
following the usual appellate processing, the case should be
returned to the Board for further consideration.

          WILLIAM J. REDDY
          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).