BVA9500973 
DOCKET NO.  93-11 931     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Portland,
Oregon

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for a skin disability, claimed
as tinea corporis and tinea versicolor.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Oregon Department of Veterans'
Affairs

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Robert P. Regan, Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active duty from August 1943 to April 1946.

To ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has met
its duty to assist the claimant in developing the facts pertinent
to the claim and to ensure full compliance with due process
requirements, the case is REMANDED to the regional office (RO)
for the following development:

1.  The RO should make another attempt to
secure the sick bay medical records of the
U. S. S. Willmarth, where the appellant
indicates he received treatment for tinea
corporis in 1944 and 1945, through official
channels.

2. The RO should review the statement,
received in March 1994, from Mr.
[redacted], who served with the appellant in
1944 and 1945.

Thereafter, 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.

          ALBERT D. TUTERA
          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).