BVA9508065 
DOCKET NO.  93-10 625     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Lincoln,
Nebraska

THE ISSUES

1.   Entitlement to an increased (compensable) rating for
residuals of an abscess of the right buttock.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for carcinoma of the
bladder.

3.  Entitlement to service connection for carcinoma of the
prostate.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Alfred J. Marchisio, Jr.

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Milo H. Hawley, Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active service from April 1951 to September 1955.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)
on appeal from a December 1990 rating decision by the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office in Lincoln, Nebraska
(RO).

It is contended that the veteran's service-connected residuals of
an abscess of the right buttock are more disabling than currently
evaluated.  It is asserted that the veteran has an area on his
right buttock which occasionally increases in size and then goes
away, and has intermittent drainage.  It is asserted that this
abscess has continued to exist since the veteran's service, and
has caused the veteran to develop carcinoma of the bladder and
prostate which was first diagnosed in 1989.  Medical evidence in
support of the assertion that there is a causal or aggravation
relationship between the abscess on the right buttock and
carcinoma of the bladder and prostate has not been submitted.

The reports of May 1990 VA examinations do not indicate that the
veteran's right buttock was examined to determine the condition
of any abscess.  A January 1994 VA outpatient treatment record
reflects that the veteran had an abscess on the right buttock
drained.

On the basis of the above record, the Board believes that
additional development is appropriate.  Accordingly, the case is
REMANDED to the RO for the following:

1.  The RO should contact the veteran and
inform him that in order to submit a well
grounded claim, with respect to service
connection for carcinoma of the bladder and
prostate on a secondary basis, he must
submit medical evidence supporting the
assertion that the abscess on the right
buttock either caused or aggravated the
carcinoma of the bladder and prostate.
Robinette v. Brown, No. 93-985 (Sept. 12,
1994), motion for reconsideration granted
(Oct. 11, 1994); Allen v. Brown, 92-245
(Mar. 17, 1995).

2.  The veteran should be scheduled for a
VA medical examination to determine the
nature and extent of his residuals of an
abscess on the right buttock.  The
examination must be conducted in accordance
with the VA Physician's Guide for
Disability Evaluation Examinations.  All
necessary tests and studies should be
accomplished, and all clinical
manifestations should be reported in
detail.  The claims file must be made
available to and reviewed by the examiner
prior to the requested examination.

3.  Following completion of the foregoing,
the RO must review the claims folder and
ensure that all of the foregoing
development actions have been conducted and
completed in full.  If any development is
incomplete, appropriate corrective action
is to be implemented.

Following completion of the above, the RO should review the
evidence and readjudicate the veteran's claims.  Thereafter, the
veteran and his representative should be furnished with a
supplemental statement of the case and be given the appropriate
opportunity to respond thereto.  Thereafter, the claims file,
including any evidence obtained, should be returned to this Board
for further appellate review, if in order.  No action by the
veteran is required until he receives further notice.

The purposes of this REMAND are to procure clarifying data and
accord due process.  The Board intimates no opinion, either legal
or factual, as to the ultimate disposition of this appeal.

          JEFFREY MARTIN
          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).