BVA9500783 
DOCKET NO.  93-07 156     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Roanoke,
Virginia

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for cataracts.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Virginia Department of Veterans
Affairs

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

M. Auer, Counsel

REMAND

The veteran served on active duty from February 1963 to August
1990.

This appeal arises from a September 1991 rating decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Roanoke, Virginia, Regional
Office (RO).  In that decision, service connection for cataracts
was denied.

When examined by the VA in August 1991, the veteran reported that
he had received treatment for blurred vision from D. Shames,
O.D., from January 1991 to August 1991.  The claims folder does
not include these records.  The VA has a duty to assist the
veteran in the development of facts pertinent to his claim under
38 C.F.R. § 3.103(a) (1993).  The United States Court of Veterans
Appeals (Court) has held that fulfillment of the VA's duty to
assist the veteran includes the procurement and consideration of
any relevant medical records.  Ferraro v. Derwinski, 1 Vet.App.
326, 334 (1991).

Additionally, the veteran's service medical records show that
cataracts were diagnosed in March 1987.  The veteran has not
received a visual examination from the VA since his discharge
from service.  It is the decision of the Board of Veterans'
Appeals (Board) that further development is necessary.

The Board finds that the actions ordered below are
warranted even though the development will further delay
the entry of a final decision in this appeal.  Accordingly,
the claim is REMANDED for the following actions:

1.  The RO should contact the veteran and
ask him to furnish the names and addresses
of all medical personnel and facilities
from whom he has received treatment for
cataracts since his discharge from service.
After obtaining the necessary authorization
from the veteran, the RO should obtain
available records from the named sources,
including D. Shames, O.D.

2.  The RO should obtain any available
treatment records from the VA hospitals or
medical centers where the veteran has
received treatment since August 1990.

3.  The veteran should be scheduled for an
appropriate VA visual examination.  The
veteran's claims folder should be furnished
to the examiner prior to the examination.
The examiner should comment on the
etiology, nature and extent of any visual
disorder found.  He or she should also
compare or contrast any findings made with
those reported by the veteran's private
optometrist with attention to the history
of visual complaints.  All testing deemed
appropriate by the examiner should be
accomplished.  The examiner should render
an opinion as to whether the current
findings are the same as or related to the
findings of March 19, 1987 (DD Form 741).
The report of the examination should be
associated with the veteran's claims
folder.

4.  The RO should then review the veteran's
claim in light of all the evidence and
applicable legal criteria.  The rating
decision should reference the service
medical records dated March 19, 1987, and
April 6, 1987.

If his claim remains denied, the veteran and his representative
should be provided with a supplemental statement of the case that
includes any additional pertinent law and regulations and a full
discussion of the evidence in his case.  The appropriate response
time should be allowed.  The case should be returned to the
Board, if in order, after compliance with all regulatory
appellate procedures.  No action is required of the veteran until
he is so informed.  The Board intimates no opinion as to the
ultimate decision warranted in this case, pending completion of
the requested development.

          H. N. SCHWARTZ
          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 action has been taken in
accordance with the Veterans' Benefits Improvements 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).