BVA9502631 
DOCKET NO.  93-04 273     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in
Indianapolis, Indiana

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for eczema.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

WITNESSES AT HEARINGS ON APPEAL

The veteran and his mother

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Ripley P. Schoenberger, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on a period of active duty for training from
August 1977 to November 1977, and on active duty from July 1979
to August 1980.

This appeal arises from a January 1991 rating decision by the RO.
The veteran was afforded personal hearing at the RO in December
1991 and July 1992.

REMAND

At his personal hearings the veteran testified that his skin rash
began during his period of active duty.  However, history
obtained in connection with recent private medical treatment has
reported the onset of chronic eczema in 1976 prior to service.
The service medical records for his period of active service show
that the veteran was seen on two occasions for tinea versicolor.
The private medical reports indicate that the veteran now has
chronic eczema.  Recent private treatment notes that he has
severe atopic dermatitis.  Based on its review of the record, the
Board is of the opinion that further development is indicated
prior to appellate handling of this matter.

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

1.  The veteran should be afforded a VA
dermatological examination to determine the
current nature and likely etiology of his
skin rash.  All indicated studies should be
accomplished.  As part of the examination,
it is requested that the examiner render an
opinion as to the etiology and date of
onset of the veteran's current skin
disorder and whether it is related to any
disease process in service.  The claims
folder should be made available to the
examiner for review before the examination.
The examiner also should elicit and record
a full clinical history referable to the
skin disease from the veteran.  As always,
the opinion should set forth the reasons
and basis for its conclusions in detail.

2.  After the development requested above
has been completed to the extent possible,
the RO should again review the record.  If
any benefit sought on appeal, for which a
notice of disagreement has been filed,
remains denied, the appellant and
representative, if any, should be furnished
a supplemental statement of the case and
given the opportunity to respond thereto.

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 appellant need take no action unless otherwise
notified.  The issue of entitlement to service connection for a
psychiatric disorder will be held in abeyance pending completion
of the request development.

          STEPHEN L. WILKINS
          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).