The Board granted the veteran's basic eligibility for VA nonservice-connected disability pension benefits based on his active duty service during a period of war, despite not meeting the 90-day requirement due to his discharge being under honorable conditions and not due to a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The veteran served in active duty during a period of war and was discharged for reasons other than a service-connected disability. His left varicocele existed prior to service but developed during service, leading the Board to grant direct service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- left varicocele
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 10, 2004
- Citation
- 0415026
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 292 · Granted: 21% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0415026.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected left varicocele with surgical resection, finding that his symptoms are comparable to those of intermittent edema and fatigue after prolonged standing or walking.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there is new and relevant evidence to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to service connection for hernia. The Veteran's current hernia diagnosis is not supported by the record, and his lay statements alone are insufficient to meet the standard to remand for a VA medical examination and/or opinion. For the left varicocele claim, the Board has determined that there is new and relevant evidence to readjudicate the claim, but further clarification on the etiology of the condition is needed.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals seeking service connection for left varicocele and erectile dysfunction.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD and depressive disorder with insomnia from December 29, 2020, but denied increased ratings for the veteran's other conditions.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.