BVA9504193 
DOCKET NO.  93-11 652     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Chicago,
Illinois

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

M. Reynolds, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from December 1944 to March
1949, and from June 1949 to June 1972.

This appeal arises from a rating decision in March 1992 by the
Chicago, Illinois, Regional Office (RO).

REMAND

The veteran contends, in essence, that the RO erred when it
denied service connection for tinnitus.  He specifically alleges
that he has ringing in his ear which has been consistent since
active duty.

As noted above, the veteran had two periods of active duty
service.  However, the record does not contain any medical
reports from his first period of service, which ended in March
1949.  A review of the available service medical records reveal
the veteran was seen in January 1968 when he reported a history
of intermittent ringing in his left ear for "at least" 20 years.
This reported history dates the onset of tinnitus to "at least"
1948, during the veteran's first period of service.

Additionally, the available service medical records reveal that
the veteran reported a history of ear infection prior to service,
during childhood.  Reports of any medical treatment provided for
ear problems, prior to service, at least since childhood, would
be useful in adjudicating the current appeal.

The United States Court of Veteran Appeals (Court) has held that
the duty of the VA to assist veterans in the development of facts
pertinent to their claims, under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5107(a) (West
1991) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.103(a) (1993), as set forth by the Court
in Littke v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 90 (1990), requires that VA
accomplish additional development of the record, if the record
currently before it is inadequate.  Accordingly, this case is
REMANDED for the following:

1.  The RO should contact the veteran and
request the name and address of all
providers of medical treatment for ear
problems prior to service, to include any
ear infections during childhood.  Upon
receipt of such information, the RO should
request a copy of all reports of such
treatment from the identified providers.
Any authorization necessary for the release
of such information should be requested
from the veteran.

2.  The RO should contact the National
Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and request
all reports of medical treatment of the
veteran during his first period of service,
from December 7, 1944 to March 4, 1949.
Additionally, the NPRC should be requested
to provide all medical reports, not already
of record, pertaining to the veteran's
subsequent active duty service from June 2,
1949 to September 3, 1969, to include a
report of examination upon re-enlistment
into service, in June 1949.

3.  The veteran should be afforded a VA
audiological evaluation in order to
ascertain the current presence and nature
of tinnitus of either ear.  All tests and
studies indicated should be performed at
this time, and specific findings provided
relative to the presence of tinnitus in
each ear.  The examiner should also be
requested to render an opinion as to the
etiology of any currently identified
tinnitus, to include whether any tinnitus
currently manifested is related to the
episodes of ringing in the ears that were
reported in the service medical records in
January 1968 and April 1972, and initially
after service in September 1972.  The
examiner should be requested to present all
findings and reasons and bases therefor, in
a clear comprehensive, and legible manner
on the evaluation report.  The claims
folder must be made available to the
examiner prior to his or her evaluation of
the veteran.

4.  Following completion of the above, the
RO should again review the veteran's claim
and determine whether service connection
for tinnitus can now be granted.  If the
decision remains adverse to the veteran, he
and his representative should be provided
with a supplemental statement of the case,
and with a reasonable period of time within
which to respond thereto.  The case should
thereafter be returned to the Board for
further consideration, as appropriate.

The veteran need take no action until he is so informed.  The
purposes of this REMAND are to obtain additional evidence and to
ensure compliance with due process considerations.

          U. R. POWELL
          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).