BVA9500310 
DOCKET NO.  93-02 868     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina

THE ISSUES

1.  Whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen
claims for entitlement to service connection for psoriasis,
arthritis and an eye disorder.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for heart disease with
hypertension.

3.  Entitlement to an increased evaluation for residuals of a
right foot injury.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

L. Jennifer Lane, Associate Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active service from January to December 1945.

The appeal originated with a November 1991 rating decision in
which the Regional Office (RO) confirmed and continued a 30
percent evaluation for residuals of a right foot injury, and
determined that new and material evidence to reopen the claims
for entitlement to service connection for psoriasis, arthritis
and an eye disorder had not been received.

The appeal also stems from a RO determination in July 1992 which
denied entitlement to service connection for a heart disorder
with hypertension and diabetes mellitus.  The veteran was
notified of the determinations in a supplemental statement of the
case issued in August 1992.  The veteran perfected an appeal
relative to "the heart condition" but not to diabetes mellitus.

INTRODUCTION

Review of the record discloses that the veteran has not been
afforded a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical
examination of his service-connected right foot disorder in many
years.  Recent outpatient treatment reports suggest there may
have been a change in the disability status.

Additionally, the veteran has reported having received treatment
at a VA Medical Center in 1990, but  the RO only requested VA
outpatient treatment records from that facility since 1991.
Moreover, the veteran has related having been treated for scaly
feet in 1968 by a "Dr. Barefoot" in Greensboro.  Reports of such
treatment are not of record.

To ensure that the VA has met its duty to assist the veteran in
developing the facts pertinent to his claims and to ensure full
compliance with due process requirements, the case is REMANDED to
the RO for the following development:

1.  The RO should obtain the names and
addresses of all medical care providers who
have treated the veteran for psoriasis,
arthritis or an eye disorder since service,
including the address of Dr. Barefoot in
Greensboro, N.C., and the dates of such
treatment and for residuals of a right foot
injury since 1990.  After securing the
necessary releases, the RO should obtain
these reports not already of record.

2.  The RO should schedule the veteran for
VA orthopedic and neurologic examinations
in accordance with the VA Physician's Guide
for Disability Evaluation Examinations.
All necessary tests and studies should be
performed.  Additionally, the examiners
must be allowed the opportunity to review
the veteran's claims file prior to the
examinations.  The purpose of this
examination is to ascertain the nature and
current severity of the veteran's service-
connected residuals of a right foot injury.

5.  Following completion of the above
development, the RO should again review the
record.  If any benefit sought on appeal,
for which an appeal has been perfected,
remains denied, the veteran and
representative should be furnished a
supplemental statement of the case and
afforded a reasonable opportunity to
respond.

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 veteran need take no action unless otherwise
notified.

          U. R. POWELL
          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).