BVA9503356 
DOCKET NO.  93-15 089     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg,
Florida

THE ISSUE

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

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Paralyzed Veterans of America,
Inc.

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Mark J. Swiatek, Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active service from May 1953 to May 1955.  This
matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a
February 1993 decision from the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Petersburg, Florida.

A review of the record discloses that the veteran has not had a
comprehensive medical examination in connection to this claim to
allow for an accurate assessment of the extent of his
disabilities.  This precludes an informed decision from being
made at this time.  The Board observes that the representative
has requested that the case be returned to the RO to accomplish a
thorough examination.

In order to ensure that the VA has met its duty to assist the
appellant with regard to developing the facts pertinent to a
claim, and ensure due process, it is the opinion of the Board
that further development as set forth below is desirable.
Accordingly, the case is REMANDED to the RO for the following
action:

1.  The RO should request the veteran to
provide the names and addresses of all
health care providers who have treated him
recently for any disability.  The RO should
attempt to obtain copies of those treatment
records identified by the veteran which
have not been previously secured.

2.  Following completion of the above
development, the veteran should be afforded
a VA general medical examination, and any
additional examinations by specialists
deemed warranted, to determine the nature
and extent of all disabilities present.
The claims folder should be made available
to the examiner prior to the examination.
The examination should be broad enough to
cover all diseases, injuries, and residual
conditions which are suggested by the
veteran's complaints, symptoms or findings
at the time of examination.  All complaints
or symptoms having a medical cause should
be covered by a definite diagnosis.
Clinical manifestations attributable to
each disability should be reported in
detail.  All indicated tests should be
accomplished.  The examiner should render
an opinion as to the effect the
disabilities found have on the veteran's
ability to work.

3.  When the above development has been
completed, the case should again be
reviewed by the RO and the rating action
prepared which lists all of the veteran's
disabilities and the percentage evaluation
assigned for each disability.  If the
decision remains adverse to the veteran, he
and his representative should be furnished
with a supplemental statement of the case
which includes a recitation of the
percentage rating for each diagnosed
disability; which cites the appropriate
diagnostic codes and provides a discussion
of their applicability to the veteran's
disabilities; and which discuss the
application of the two standards (average
person and unemployability) by which a
permanent and total disability rating for
pension purposes may be assigned.  They
should then be afforded the applicable time
to respond.

Thereafter, subject to current appellate procedures, the case
should be returned to the Board for further appellate
consideration, if appropriate.  The veteran need take no action
until he is further informed.  The purpose of this REMAND is to
obtain additional information and assure due process of law.  No
inference should be drawn regarding the final disposition of the
claim as a result of this action.

          GARY L. GICK
          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 deter-
mination.  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 action has been taken in
accordance with the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 1994,
Pub. L. No. 103-446, § 303, 108 Stat. 4645, ___ (1994), and 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).