BVA9506222 
DOCKET NO.  93-13 621     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in North Little
Rock, Arkansas

THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

2.  Entitlement to service connection for a heart disability.

3.  Entitlement to service connection for a back disability.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by:  Disabled American Veterans

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

B. Anderson, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The appellant had active duty from September 1984 to August 1992.

This appeal arises from a January 1993 rating decision of the
North Little Rock, Arkansas, regional office (RO).  In that
decision, service connection
was denied for psychiatric, heart, and back disabilities.

The appellant's representative raised for the first time on
appeal the issue of entitlement to service connection for
impaired hearing.  Such issue has not been developed and
certified for appellate review.  Accordingly, it is referred to
the RO for appropriate consideration.

REMAND

The appellant was admitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) medical center at Little Rock on April 29, 1992, for
evaluation of supraventricular tachycardia.  Although an
electrocardiogram was normal, it was recommended that a Holter
monitor and echocardiogram be accomplished on an outpatient
basis, followed by an appointment in the Green Clinic with Dr.
Marilyn Clark.

A May 15, 1992, service department report of medical history
indicates that the appellant had been put on Inderal, that an
echocardiogram had been normal, but that abnormal premature
ventricular contractions had been shown on a Holter monitor.
Neither the reports of these studies nor a report of follow-up
appointment at the VA Green Clinic is of record.  Moreover, the
report of service discharge examination has not been associated
with the claims folder.  Supraventricular tachycardia was
diagnosed by history only on the report of disability examination
of the appellant by VA in December 1992.  The evaluation
essentially consisted of an electrocardiogram and the statement,
without clinical findings, that the cardiovascular system was
normal.  It is unclear whether the claims folder was available to
the examiner.

To ensure that VA has met its duty to assist the claimant in
developing the facts pertinent to the claim, the case is REMANDED
to the RO for the following development:

1.  The RO should make another attempt to
secure all of the appellant's service
medical records through official channels,
to include the report of service discharge
examination.  If obtained, they should be
associated with the claims file.

2.  The RO should obtain the appellant's
outpatient folder, to include the report of
Holter monitor sometime between May 2 and
May 15, 1992, from the Little Rock VA
medical center and associate it with the
claims folder.

3.  The appellant should be afforded a
comprehensive VA cardiovascular examination
to determine the nature and extent of any
heart disease found to be present.  All
indicated special tests and studies should
be conducted, and clinical findings should
be reported in detail.  The claims folder
should be made available to the examiner
for review before the examination.  If
pathology is present, the examiner should
be asked to provide an opinion as to the
degree of probability, if any, of a causal
relationship to service.

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
should be furnished a supplemental statement of the case and
given the applicable opportunity to reply.  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
until so notified.

          CHARLES E. HOGEBOOM
          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) (1994).