The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left epididymitis (also claimed as varicocele and swollen left testicle) is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions from previous examinations.
The deciding factor: There are conflicting medical opinions regarding the nature of the Veteran's condition, specifically whether it can be characterized as 'edema' or if there have been any symptoms consistent with an infection in his left testicle.
- Claimed conditions
- left epididymitis, varicocele, swollen left testicle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20065436
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied increased ratings for right shoulder impingement syndrome, hearing loss, painful scar, patellofemoral pain syndromes of the knees, and other conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for urethritis, left epididymitis, genital warts, Bell's palsy, and noncompensable evaluations for residuals of a fractured 5th digit, left hand, rhinitis, upper respiratory infections, and scar on the right index finger.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable rating for hypertension and left epididymitis due to a lack of notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for varicocele and rating tendonitis of the right ankle in excess of 10 percent to obtain additional evidence.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.