BVA9505676 
DOCKET NO.  93-13 314     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Louisville,
Kentucky

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease(COPD) to include asthma, bronchitis and
emphysema.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

REMAND

The veteran had active duty from August 1942 to December 1945.
The question in this case is whether the veteran's current lung
disorder is directly due to or proximately the result of his
service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis.  The recent Department
of Veterans Affairs examination in January 1993 seems to indicate
that the veteran's tuberculosis is a contributor to the veteran's
current lung disorder but not a direct cause.  Further
development of this question is necessary in this case.

To ensure that VA has met its duty to assist the appellant in
developing the facts pertinent to the claim, the case is REMANDED
to the regional office (RO) for the following development:

The veteran should be afforded a VA
pulmonary examination to determine the
nature and extent of his current lung
disorder.  The claims folder should be made
available to the examiner for review before
the examination.  All indicated tests and
studies should be performed.  The examiner
should express an opinion as to whether
there is a causal relationship between any
lung disorder found and the veteran's
service-connected tuberculosis.  The
examiner should express an opinion as to
the degree that the tuberculosis plays in
any lung disorder found.

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.

          LAWRENCE M. SULLIVAN
          Member, Board of Veterans' Appeals

          (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

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).