BVA9505145 
DOCKET NO.  93-12 327     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in No. Little
Rock, Arkansas

THE ISSUES

Entitlement to service connection for a back disorder.

Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to
include post traumatic stress disorder.

Entitlement to service connection for otitis externa.

Entitlement to service connection for the residuals of a venereal
disease.

Entitlement to service connection for calluses of both feet.

Entitlement to service connection for the residuals of a bear
bite of the right fifth finger.

Entitlement to a permanent and total disability rating for
pension purposes.

REPRESENTATION

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

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

The veteran

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

J. L. Prichard, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active service from November 1963 to October
1966.  In a statement dated June 25, 1991, the veteran referred
to various health problems which he appeared to attribute to
Agent Orange exposure during service. The issue of entitlement to
service connection for disability resulting from exposure to
toxic chemicals during service has not been finally adjudicated
by the regional office.

The veteran contends that he has developed many disorders as a
result of active service.  In addition, the veteran contends that
his disabilities combine to render him permanently and totally
unemployable.

A review of the record indicates that the veteran is in receipt
of disability benefits from the Social Security Administration
(SSA).  A copy of the July 1992 SSA decision which awarded the
veteran benefits is contained in the claims folder, as is a list
of the evidence considered by this decision.  However, most of
this evidence is not contained in the claims folder.  The Board
of Veterans' Appeals (Board) believes that it would be helpful to
obtain this evidence before reaching a decision in this matter.

The Board notes that some of the veteran's service medical
records have been obtained and associated with the claims folder.
However, the veteran testified at the November 1992 personal
hearing that his service medical records were incomplete for the
period of May 1964 to March 1966.  In this connection, the Board
has observed that the veteran was reportedly hospitalized from
September 8 to September 23, 1966, for treatment of a right ear
disorder, but few records for this admission were received from
the service department.  He further testified that he was in
possession of some of his service medical records, and that he
had attempted to obtain his records directly from the National
Personnel Records Center.  Transcript (T.) at pages 16 - 17.  The
veteran also requested that an additional attempt be made to
obtain service medical records in his July 1992 Substantive
Appeal.  It is unclear from the record whether the regional
office (RO) has attempted to obtain the service medical records
in question.

The appeal is remanded for the following development:

1.  The RO should request that the records
of the SSA used in reaching the July 1992
decision to award the veteran disability
benefits should be obtained and associated
with the claims folder.

2.  The RO should contact the National
Personnel Records Center in St. Louis,
Missouri, and request that a search be
conducted for additional service medical
records for the veteran.  In particular,
any records for the period of May 1964 to
March 1966 should be obtained and
associated with the claims folder.  The
veteran should be requested to provide
copies of all service medical records in
his possession to the RO for inclusion in
the claims folder.

3.  The RO should contact the veteran and
request that he provide the names and
addresses of each source of treatment for
his disabilities from 1991 to the present.
This should include the names of both VA
and private facilities.  After obtaining
the necessary permission from the veteran,
these records should be obtained and
associated with the claims folder.

4.  The veteran should also be afforded
appropriate VA medical examination for the
disabilities at issue in this appeal.  The
examination(s) should be conducted in
accordance with the Physicians Guide for
Disability Evaluation Examinations.

5.  Thereafter, the regional office should
readjudicate the issues on appeal.

If, following the review of the veteran's claims, the decision
remains unfavorable to the veteran, both he and his
representative should be issued an appropriate supplemental
statement of the case.  The case should then be returned to the
Board for further appellate review.  The purpose of this remand
is to assist the veteran in the development of his claim, and the
Board does not intimate any opinion, either legal or factual, as
to the ultimate disposition warranted in this appeal.

          JOHN E. ORMOND
          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).