BVA9500550 
DOCKET NO.  93-06 786     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in El Paso,
Texas

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to the payment or reimbursement of medical expenses
not previously authorized for emergency room treatment on April
14, 1992.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Robert E. P. Jones, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran served on active duty from April 1953 to November
1964.  This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals
(Board) on appeal from a June 1992 decision by the clinic of
original jurisdiction, which denied the veteran's claim for
payment of the cost of private medical services rendered on April
14, 1992.  Although copies of certain relevant documents are on
file, the veteran's complete medical administration folder is not
of record.

The veteran received prior treatment at the same hospital on
April 12, 1992.  He claims that the treatment received on April
14 was for the same illness for which he received treatment on
April 12.  The Department of Veterans Affairs paid for the
unauthorized care received on April 12.  The records for the
April 12 treatment are not contained in the veteran's claims
file.  The veteran has also requested payment or reimbursement
for treatment received from  April 16 through April 21, 1992.

In light of the foregoing, this case is hereby REMANDED to the
originating agency for the following action:

1.  After obtaining the appropriate
authorization, the originating agency
should obtain copies of all treatment
records of the veteran dated in April 1992,
from the Sierra Vista Hospital.  All copies
obtained should be made part of the record.

2. The veteran's medical administration
folder for the period January to April
1992, should be obtained and made a part of
the record.

3.  The originating agency should again
consider the veteran's claim for payment or
reimbursement of unauthorized medical
expenses incurred on April 14, 1992.  The
originating agency should also adjudicate
the veteran's claim for payment or
reimbursement of unauthorized medical
expenses incurred from April 16 through
April 21, 1992.

4.  After the above action has been
completed the originating agency should
send the veteran a supplemental statement
of the case which should include a summary
of all evidence received since the March
1993 statement of the case. The veteran and
his representative should be given the
appropriate period of time in which to
respond.

Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board for further
consideration, if in order.  No action is required by the veteran
until he receives further notice.  The purpose of this REMAND is
to obtain clarifying information.

          WAYNE M. BRAEUER
          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).