BVA9506074 
DOCKET NO.  93-10 292     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Nashville,
Tennessee

THE ISSUES

Entitlement to service connection for arteriosclerotic coronary
artery disease, to include hypertension.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

S. D. Regan, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had certified active service from September 1955 to
September 1959.  This matter came before the Board of Veterans'
Appeals (hereinafter "the Board") on appeal from a July 1992
rating decision of the Nashville, Tennessee Regional Office
(hereinafter "the RO") which denied service connection for
arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease and for hypertension.
The veteran has been represented throughout this appeal by the
American Legion.

The veteran asserts on appeal that the RO erred in denying
service connection for arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease
and in denying service connection for hypertension.  In reviewing
the record, the Board observes that the veteran reported in an
August 1992 statement on appeal that he had been treated for high
blood pressure at a Department of Veterans Affairs (hereinafter
"VA") hospital in the 1960's.  Further, in his August 1992
Application for Compensation or Pension, the veteran related that
he had been treated for high blood pressure in the 1960's at the
VA Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.  The clinical
documentation pertaining to such treatment has neither been
requested nor incorporated into the record.  The Board finds that
such treatment records would be helpful in resolving the issues
raised by the instant appeal.  The veteran also contends he was
treated for high blood pressure during service, although
available service medical records do not substantiate this
circumstance.

Further, in his April 1992 Application for Compensation or
Pension, the veteran advanced contentions which the board has
construed as a claim for service connection for arthritis and a
claim for service connection for gout.  These issues have neither
been developed nor certified for the Board's review on appeal and
are referred to the RO for any development deemed appropriate.

In light of the VA's duty to assist the veteran in the proper
development of his claim as mandated by the provisions of
38 U.S.C.A. § 5107(b) (West 1991) and as interpreted by the
United States Court of Veterans Appeals (hereinafter "the
Court") in Littke v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App. 90, 92-93 (1990),
this case is REMANDED for the following action:
1.  The RO should contact the veteran
through his accredited representative and
request that he provide information as to
the VA or private medical facilities at
which he received post-service treatment.
The veteran should also be informed of the
advisability of furnishing information
about any medical examinations for
employment or insurance purposes which he
may have undergone in the years immediately
following service, so that the VA may
assist him in obtaining such evidence as it
might reflect blood pressure readings or
other information about his cardiovascular
system.  Upon receipt of the requested
information, the RO should contact the
identified facilities, including the
Nashville, Tennessee VA Medical Center and
request that all available clinical
documentation be forwarded for
incorporation into the record.

2.  As the veteran has also apparently had
service in the reserves, the RO should also
contact the appropriate repository or
service organization and request that it
forward the veteran's complete service
medical records including those associated
with any period of certified active duty
for training and/or inactive duty for
training, for incorporation into the file.

When the requested action has been completed, and if his claim
continues to be denied, the veteran should be afforded a
reasonable period of time in which to respond to a supplemental
statement of the case.  Thereafter, subject to current appellate
procedures, the case should be returned to the Board for further
appellate consideration if appropriate.  The veteran need not
take any action unless he is further informed.  The purpose of
this REMAND is to allow for further development of the record.
No inference should be drawn from it regarding the final
disposition of the veteran's claim.

          JEFF 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).