BVA9503431 
DOCKET NO.  92-16 934     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Nashville,
Tennessee

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for a back disability.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for a genitourinary
disability.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Robert E. P. Jones, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran served on active duty from July 1963 to August 1965.
This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on
appeal from a May 1992 rating decision by the Nashville,
Tennessee, Regional Office (RO).

The veteran seeks service connection for a genitourinary
disability to include a prostatic disorder.  The veteran's
service medical records reveal that the veteran was treated for
prostatitis on several occasions following an episode of
gonorrhea.  In 1979 and 1980 he was evaluated at a Department of
Veterans' Affairs (VA) facility for retro-pubic pain of unclear
etiology.  A genitourinary examination performed in August 1994
revealed benign prostatic hypertrophy.  However the VA examiner
did not review the veteran's service medical records prior to the
examination and the history recorded, apparently obtained from
the veteran, is inconsistent with the service medical records.
As a result, no opinion is expressed as to the relationship
between the veteran's current condition and the conditions
diagnosed and treated in service.  The veteran's service
representative, in a December 1994 statement, requested that the
veteran be given the opportunity to present testimony and medical
evidence to show the existence of a chronic prostatic disorder
since discharge from service.

The veteran also seeks service connection for a back disability.
This issue is deferred until completion of the development of the
genitourinary issue.

In light of the foregoing, this case is hereby REMANDED to the
agency of original jurisdiction for the following actions:

1.  The RO should contact the veteran and
ask that he supply the names and addresses
of all physicians or facilities which have
treated the veteran for a prostatic
disorder since discharge from service.
After obtaining the proper authorization,
the RO should attempt to obtain copies of
these records.  All copies obtained should
be associated with the veteran's claims
file.

2.  The RO should obtain copies of all
available treatment records, both inpatient
and outpatient, from the VA Medical Center,
Mountain Home, Tennessee, subsequent to
August 1994 to present.  All copies
obtained should be associated with the
veteran's claims folder.

3.  After the above development has been
accomplished, the RO should schedule the
veteran for a special VA genitourinary
examination, to determine the nature and
extent of any genitourinary disability.
The examiner must be provided with the
veteran's claims file prior to the
examination so that the examiner may review
the veteran's service medical records and
the post service medical records.  The
examiner is requested to identify any
current disability of the prostate.  This
should include testing to determine if the
veteran currently experiences prostatitis.
All tests and studies deemed necessary
should be performed and all clinical
manifestations should be reported in
detail.  The examiner is requested to offer
an opinion as to the etiology of any
current prostate pathology.

After the requested development has been completed, the veteran's
claims should again be considered by the RO.  Should the prior
denial be confirmed, the case should be returned to the Board, if
in order.  No action is required of the veteran until he receives
further notice.  The Board intimates no opinion, either legal or
factual, as to the disposition warranted in this case pending
completion of the above actions.

          ROBERT D. PHILIPP
          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).