The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than December 14, 2005 for service connection and a compensable rating for left varicocele.
The deciding factor: There were no earlier nonfinal claims for service connection prior to December 14, 2005, and the claim was not reopened based on new evidence. The Veteran's condition is rated under the general provisions of Diagnostic Code 7525.
- Claimed conditions
- left varicocele
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 23, 2015
- Citation
- 1553585
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1553585.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals seeking service connection for left varicocele and erectile dysfunction.
- Whole decision: 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.
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