BVA9501410 
DOCKET NO.  93-13 200     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased evaluation for paroxysmal
tachycardia, currently rated 10 percent disabling.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Hilary L. Goodman, Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active service from September 1960 to February
1962.

This appeal arises from an October 1991 rating decision which
continued a 10 percent disability evaluation for paroxysmal
tachycardia.

In June 1991, D. E. Damazo, M.D., diagnosed anginal syndrome and
coronary artery disease; the veteran was to be seen for follow-up
at Dr. Damazo's office.  The veteran indicated in March 1992 that
he was receiving treatment for his paroxysmal tachycardia on a
regular basis.  The claims file does not include any records from
Dr. Damazo reflecting follow-up treatment of the veteran.  Dr.
Damazo did not respond to a request for such records dated in
April 1992, possibly because his name was not spelled correctly
and the address does not appear to be correct.

The veteran and his representative, at a March 1992 hearing on
appeal, raised the issue of service connection for cardiovascular
disability other than paroxysmal tachycardia, specifically
contending that he had a heart attack in service.  The question
of the veteran's possible entitlement to service connection for
additional cardiovascular disability should be resolved prior to
appellate consideration of the issue of his entitlement to a
disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his paroxysmal
tachycardia.  See Harris v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 180 (1991).

In view of the foregoing, the Board finds that the case should be
REMANDED to the originating agency for the following action:

1.  The veteran should be requested to
identify all sources of medical treatment
received for cardiovascular disability.  He
should be asked to provide the address for
Dr. Damazo's office.  Copies of the medical
records from all sources identified by the
veteran (not already in the claims folder)
should be obtained and added to the claims
folder.

2.  After the medical records have been
obtained, the veteran should be scheduled
for a cardiovascular examination.  The
express purpose of the examination is to
evaluate the current severity of his
paroxysmal tachycardia, and to determine
the etiology of any other current
cardiovascular disability.  All necessary
tests and studies should be conducted and
clinical manifestations should be reported
in detail.  The examiner should be given
access to the claims file for a sufficient
period of time prior to the examination to
allow for a complete review of the record.

3.  When the above development has been
completed, the originating agency should
again review the veteran's claims, to
include the claim of entitlement to service
connection for cardiovascular disability
other than paroxysmal tachycardia.  The
veteran is to be informed of the
determination by letter that includes
appellate rights.

If the determination made on the issue of an increased evaluation
for his paroxysmal tachycardia remains unfavorable to the
veteran, a supplemental statement of the case which sets forth
the evidence received since the February 1993 supplemental
statement of the case should be issued to the veteran and his
representative.  If a notice of disagreement is received with
regard to any new issue, such as entitlement to service
connection for a cardiovascular disability other than proxysmal
tachycardia, this issue should be addressed in the supplemental
statement of the case or by way of a statement of the case.  The
veteran and his representative should be informed that a
substantive appeal must be filed with regard to any new issue.
They should be given the applicable period of time in which to
respond.  Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board
for further consideration, if in order.  No action is required by
the veteran until he receives further notice.  The purpose of
this REMAND is to obtain clarifying medical information and
afford the veteran due process.

          GARY L. GICK
          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 deter-
mination.  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).