BVA9507314 
DOCKET NO.  93-13 861     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Roanoke,
Virginia

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to an increased evaluation for a skin disorder of the
hands and feet, currently evaluated at 10 percent.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Nancy R. Kegerreis, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from October 1966 to October
1968.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board)
from an October 1991 rating decision by the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Roanoke, Virginia,
which denied an increased evaluation for a skin disorder of the
hands and feet.

REMAND

The veteran has recently requested an increased evaluation for
his service-connected skin disorder of the hands and feet,
stating that he has almost continued itching and frequent flare-
ups of skin eruptions and that his feet are exceptionally
repugnant.  Although the RO has obtained extensive records of the
veteran's treatment from several physicians and surgeons and from
Community Hospital, these pertain to treatment for colorectal
adenocarcinoma and do not refer to any type of dermatitis.
Although the veteran was specifically requested in November 1991
to provide current medical evidence as to a skin condition, the
only evidence submitted was a June 1988 medical certificate
pertaining to treatment for tinea pedis of the left foot.

The Board notes that the veteran has not had a VA disability
evaluation examination since February 1974.  Since a claim for an
increase is inherently a new claim and is thus well grounded, the
Board has a duty to assist him in developing the facts pertinent
to his claim.  The duty to assist includes the conduct of a
thorough and contemporaneous medical examination in order that
the Board's evaluation of the claimed disability will be a fully
informed one.  Relative to the veteran's skin disorder, noting
that the veteran has recounted a prior history of remission and
recurrence, it is necessary that the appearance and virulence of
the outbreaks of the disorder be medically evaluated during the
outbreaks.  See Ardison v. Brown, 6 Vet.App. 405, 407-408 (1994).
For this reason, the veteran should be
instructed to report immediately for examination to the VA
Outpatient Clinic at the nearest VA as soon as an acute
exacerbation of the condition occurs.  A description of the
findings should then be included with the claims file to be
evaluated by the physician who will examine him.  He should then
be afforded a VA disability evaluation examination to be
performed during the active stage of the disorder.  The examiner
should also be requested to ascertain the existence, extent, and
significance of any dermatitis found on parts of the body other
than the feet ("id reaction") due to the veteran's skin disorder.

In view of the foregoing, this case is REMANDED for the following
action:

1.  The veteran should be contacted and
instructed to report to the nearest VA
Outpatient Clinic for examination during a
time when his skin disorder is exacerbated.
The findings of this examination should be
incorporated with the claims file.

2.  After the above development has been
accomplished, the veteran should be
afforded a VA disability evaluation
examination to determine the nature and
severity of the veteran's dermatological
disorder.  The examiner should be requested
to evaluate the existence, extent, and
significance of dermatitis in any other
areas of the body.  The examination must be
conducted in conformity with Chapter 11 of
the VA Physician's Guide for Disability
Evaluation Examinations (1985).  Any
indicated evaluations, studies, and tests
deemed necessary by the examiner should be
accomplished.  The claims file must be made
available to the examiner for a complete
study of the case prior to, and during, the
evaluation.

When the requested development has been completed, the case
should again be reviewed by the RO.  If the determination remains
adverse to the veteran, the case should be returned to the Board
after compliance with the provisions for processing appeals,
including the issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

          WARREN W. RICE, JR.
          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).