BVA9502817 
DOCKET NO.  91-15 109     )       DATE
          )
          )

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

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for multiple sclerosis.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

A. K. Mulroy, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served from May 1986 to October 1988.  She was
originally denied service connection for multiple sclerosis
by the Portland, Oregon, Regional Office (hereinafter the
RO), in a decision dated in June 1989 and has appealed the
denial.  In decisions dated in June 1991 and September 1992,
the Board of Veterans Appeals (hereinafter the Board)
remanded the case for additional development.  The veteran is
represented by the American Legion.

REMAND

The veteran contends that she developed early multiple
sclerosis during service, as diagnosed by her private
physician who treated her during and since service.  She
maintains that she is therefore entitled to service
connection for multiple sclerosis.  The veteran's
representative has requested a remand in order to attempt to
obtain additional records including all the records relating
to a Coast Guard physical evaluation board.

In reviewing the record, the Board notes that subsequent to the
latest remand action in this case, an October 1993 Physical
Evaluation Board decision of the Coast Guard was made indicating
that the veteran was deemed permanently retired due to multiple
sclerosis.  The veteran's representative requests that the case
once again be remanded so that a complete copy of the Physical
Evaluation Board proceedings, including any testimony taken, and
medical records considered, be sought from Headquarters United
States Coast Guard.  It is not clear from the file that all
pertinent records relating to the latest Physical Evaluation
Board decision have been secured, and in light of the entreaties
made by the representative in conjunction with the statutory duty
to assist the veteran in proving her claim, this appeal once
again requires additional development.

Accordingly, the case is being REMANDED for the following action:

Headquarters, United States Coast Guard, or
other appropriate repository should be
contacted and requested to submit copies of
all documentation, including testimony taken
and clinical evidence considered in
conjunction with the October 1993 Physical
Evaluation Board determination that the
veteran was permanently retired due to
multiple sclerosis.

When the above development has been completed, the case should
again be reviewed by the originating agency.  If the decision
remains adverse to the veteran, she and her representative should
be furnished a Supplemental Statement of the Case and afforded a
reasonable period 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 not take any action unless she is further
informed.  The purpose of this REMAND is to allow for further
development of the record.  No inference should be drawn from it
regarding the final disposition of the veteran's claim.

          E. W. SEERY
          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).