BVA9503078 
DOCKET NO.  93-07 035     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Detroit,
Michigan

THE ISSUES

Entitlement to an increased disability rating for psychoneurosis,
currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling.

Entitlement to an increased disability evaluation for bilateral
varicose veins, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

Entitlement to an increased disability rating for bilateral
metatarsalgia currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual
unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

R. M. Yonemoto, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from December 1942 to September
1943.

This case comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on
appeal from rating decisions of November 1991 and August 1994
from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO)
in Detroit, Michigan.  A hearing was held by a traveling Member
of the Board on March 22, 1993 in the RO.

REMAND

In March 1993, the veteran was hospitalized at a VA Medical
Center because of complaints not pertinent herein.  Admission
examination of the extremities revealed slight pitting edema and
increased temperature.  Subsequent examination showed no pitting
edema.  In a progress note of May 1993, it was reported that the
veteran had minimal left extremity edema.

In December 1993, the Board remanded the case, in part, to
schedule the veteran for an examination by an appropriate
specialist in order to determine the nature and severity of the
veteran's service-connected bilateral varicose veins.  It was
further requested that the examiner should report varicosities of
the superficial veins above and below the knee and varicosities
of the long saphenous, if any, as well as any distortion,
sacculation, edema or ulceration, and that symptoms of pain or
cramping on exertion should be noted.  Following the remand, the
RO did not accomplish the above requested development.

A VA progress note of March 1994 discloses that the veteran
complained of cramping sensation in the calves, than an
examination showed bilateral varicose veins and increased
temperature of the lower extremities, and that the veteran was
hairless up to the knees.

In view of the foregoing, we REMAND the case for the following
actions:

1.  The RO should schedule the veteran for
an examination by a specialist in order to
determine the extent and severity of the
service-connected varicose veins.  The
examiner should be requested to report any
involvement of the superficial veins above
and below the knee as well as the long
saphenous.  The examiner should also make
findings with respect to any distortion,
sacculation, edema, ulceration, symptoms of
pain, or cramping on exertion.  All
indicated laboratory studies should be
accomplished.  The examination should be
conducted in accordance with the
Physician's Guide for Disability Evaluation
Examinations.  The veteran's claims folder
should be made available to the examiner
for a sufficient period of time prior to
the examination in order to have a complete
and accurate history of the above-mentioned
disabilities.

2.  Additionally, the RO should schedule a
social and industrial survey of the
veteran.  The survey should include
interviews with the veteran's friends and
neighbors, and members of his family.  The
report should contain a description of his
daily activities and information on his
involvement, if any, with community
affairs, social organizations, and church
activities.

When the above development has been completed, the case should be
reviewed by the RO.  If the decision remains adverse to the
veteran, he and his representative should be furnished a
supplemental statement of the case and be afforded a reasonable
opportunity to respond.  Thereafter, the case should be returned
to the Board for further appellate consideration.  Appellate
consideration of the remaining issues is deferred until
completion of the above development.  The purpose of this REMAND
is to obtain clarifying information and to satisfy due process
requirements.  No action is required of the veteran until he
receives further notice.

          J. U. JOHNSON
          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).