The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of his service-connected disabilities in determining whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: VA must provide an appropriate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's ability to work given his service-connected conditions and overall employment history.
- Claimed conditions
- Bladder, status post excision of meatal stricture, left varicocele, left epididymitis, status post left epididymectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 8, 2011
- Citation
- 1141433
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 1141433.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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 Veteran's bladder and GERD disabilities are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including the need for VA examinations and additional medical records.
- 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.
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