BVA9500929 
DOCKET NO.  93-10 956     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in
Columbia, South Carolina

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for Parkinson's disease.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: The American Legion

WITNESSES AT HEARING ON APPEAL

The veteran and his wife

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Christopher Maynard, Associate Counsel

REMAND

The veteran had active duty from March 1967 to March 1971 and
from February 27 to March 22, 1991.

The veteran contends that his Parkinson's disease was permanently
aggravated due to stress from service while on active duty during
Operation Desert Storm.  The veteran also testified at a personal
hearing in December 1992 that he is receiving Social Security
disability benefits and cannot work because of Parkinson's
disease.

The record indicates that Parkinson's disease was first diagnosed
in 1989 and that the veteran has been treated primarily by a
physician, J. Carnes, M.D., since that time.  Of record are
numerous consultation reports from Dr. Carnes for the period
beginning in March 1989 through November 1992.  In a report dated
in March 1992, Dr. Carnes expressed an opinion to the effect that
stress accelerated some of his symptoms in that they appeared to
have accelerated after his activation.  Dr. Carnes' letter also
noted that the veteran had been evaluated at Emory University by
Dr. G Alexander.  Additionally, a letter from the veteran's
supervisor while on active duty in February 1991 described
noticeable changes in the veteran's health while on active duty
at that time.

The Board notes that, while the RO attempted to obtain copies of
the veteran's Reserve medical records, they are not in the claims
folder.

In light of the veteran's claim and the current evidence of
record, it is the opinion of the Board that additional
development is necessary prior to further appellate review.
Accordingly, the case is REMANDED to the RO for the following
action:

1.  The RO should take appropriate steps to
contact the veteran in order to obtain
information concerning the award of Social
Security disability benefits.  The RO
should obtain copies of all available
treatment records, including those from
Dr. Alexander at Emory University and any
additional records from Dr. Carnes
subsequent to November 1992, and associate
them with the claims folder.

2.  The RO should again attempt to obtain
the veteran's Reserve medical records and
associate them with the claims folder.

3.  The veteran should be afforded a VA
neurological examination to determine the
current status of his Parkinson's disease.
All indicated testing should be done in
this regard.  The examiner should review
the entire record, and particularly the
reports from Dr. Carnes, and render an
opinion as to whether the veteran's
Parkinson's disease underwent an increase
in severity beyond what would be considered
normal progression for such a condition
during the veteran's period of active
service.  A copy of this REMAND and the
claims folder should be made available to
the examiner for review before the
examination.  The examination should be
performed in accordance with the guidelines
set out in the Physician's Guide for
Disability Evaluation Examinations.  (IB
11-56, March 1, 1985).  The findings should
be typed or otherwise recorded in a legible
manner for review purposes.

4.  After the development requested above
has been completed, the RO should again
review the claim.  If the decision remains
denied, the veteran and his representative
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 for
appellate disposition, 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.

          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).