BVA9501950 
DOCKET NO.  93-03 572     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in San Juan,
Puerto Rico

THE ISSUES

1. Entitlement to service connection for residuals of frostbite
of the right upper extremity.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for a right eye disorder.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Puerto Rico Public Advocate for
Veterans Affairs

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Alberto H. Zapata, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from February 1956 to January
1958.

This matter comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on
appeal from a May 1991 rating decision of the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in San Juan, Puerto
Rico.

REMAND

The veteran contends that he is suffering from the residuals of
frostbite of the right upper extremity resulting from his active
service with the United States Army in Greenland in 1957.  The
veteran also contends that he has an eye disorder which is
similarly linked to his exposure to the freezing weather while in
Greenland.  The veteran's personnel and service medical records
are believed to have been lost in the fire at the National
Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri in 1973.  Thus,
the facts surrounding the veteran's frostbite injury are
articulated entirely through the statements of the veteran and
his comrades.

The Board notes that a private medical report dated in June 1989
includes diagnoses for the veteran of frostbite to the medial
aspect of the right forearm and cervicodorsal syndrome with
atrophy of the right upper extremity, post-freezing injury.  In
that report, the examiner noted that upon discharge from the
Reserves in 1962 the veteran was treated at a VA hospital.  No
report of such treatment is of record, and the veteran testified
before the RO's hearing officer that he first sought VA treatment
in 1985.

After more recent examination of the veteran in May 1992, a VA
physician made a final diagnosis of frostbite of the right
shoulder and right upper extremity by history.  However, the
physician observed only generalized right shoulder and upper
extremity weakness.  Given the current state of the record, the
Board is of the opinion that further development is warranted.

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

1.  The RO should contact the veteran and
clarify whether he was in fact treated at
a VA facility upon his discharge from the
Reserves in 1962, and, if so, which
facility rendered the care.  If the
veteran confirms such treatment, the RO
should attempt to obtain and associate
with the claims file any available
treatment records.

2.  Then, the RO should arrange for a VA
examination of the veteran suitable to
determine the nature and extent of the
veteran's current residuals of frostbite,
if any.  The examiner should review the
claims file before the examination and
arrange for all indicated studies
necessary to make a final determination.
He should specifically identify any
frostbite residuals he finds, including
full rationale for any opinion he might
offer.

3.  The RO should afford the veteran an
opportunity to submit additional evidence
in support of his claims.

4.  Thereafter, the RO should proceed with
any additional appropriate development,
and readjudicate the certified issues.

If the benefits sought on appeal are not granted to the veteran's
satisfaction, the RO should issue a Supplemental Statement of the
Case, and the veteran and his representative should be provided
an opportunity to respond.  The case should then be returned to
the Board for further appellate consideration, if otherwise in
order.  By this REMAND, the Board implies no conclusion, either
legal or factual, as to any final outcome warranted.  No action
is required of the veteran unless he is otherwise notified by the
RO.

          J. J. SCHULE
          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).