BVA9502161 
DOCKET NO.  93-13 174     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg,
Florida

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Mark D. Chestnutt, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from  September 1988 to October
1990.

This appeal stems from a September 1992 rating decision of the
St. Petersburg, Florida, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Regional Office (RO) that denied service connection for bilateral
pes planus.

The veteran referred to a claim for service connection for a
hernia in his February 1993 notice of disagreement.  This issue
has not been certified or developed for appeal, is not properly
before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) and is hereby
referred to the RO for appropriate action.

REMAND

The veteran contends that his bilateral pes planus resulted from
his duties in service, which included standing for many hours per
day.  He further notes that this condition did not appear until
some twenty months after his enlistment.  In the alternative, he
contends that his pes planus, if found to be a preexisting
condition, was aggravated by service. Initially, the Board finds
that the veteran's claim is "well grounded" within the meaning of
38 U.S.C.A. § 5107.

The February 1988 report of medical history and entrance
examination are negative for reference to pes planus.  The first
reference to a foot disorder was in May 1989 when the veteran was
seen with complaints of foot pain and he indicated that his foot
problems had begun in high school--the assessment was symptomatic
pes planus.  A letter from his commanding officer, dated in May
1990, noted that the veteran was required to stand for 10 to 14
hours per day and that there had been a dramatic deterioration in
the veteran's performance as his medical problem persisted.  In
June 1990, he was recommended for light duty and was instructed
not to stand for prolonged periods.  A medical board report, also
in June 1990, indicated that the veteran's pes planus was
symptomatic with military training and recommended discharge from
service.

As the veteran's claim is well-grounded, an examination is
necessary prior to a final determination.  Accordingly, the case
is remanded to the RO for the following action:

1. The RO should obtain the names and
addresses of all medical care providers who
treated the veteran for pes planus both
prior and subsequent to his period of
military service. After securing the
necessary release, the RO should obtain
these records.

2. The veteran should be afforded a VA
orthopedic or podiatry examination to
determine the nature and extent of the
veteran's pes planus. All clinical
manifestations should be reported in
detail. The claims folder should be made
available to the examiner for review before
the examination.

After completion of the above develoopment, the case again should
be considered by the RO. Should the prior denial be confirmed,
the case should be returned to the Board, if in order.  The Board
intimates no opinion as to the ultimate outcome of this case.
The appellant need take no action unless otherwise notified.

          WAYNE M. BRAEUER
          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).