The Board has remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left epididymectomy and requested that VA attempt to obtain private urology records. The SMC claim based on loss of use of a creative organ is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left testicle was found to be one-third the normal size, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.
- Claimed conditions
- left epididymectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 26, 2024
- Citation
- 24012618
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 24012618.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for post-operative residuals of left epididymectomy (previously claimed as epididymitis) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show complete atrophy or recurrent symptomatic infections requiring drainage/frequent hospitalization, and thus a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted under DCs 7523 or 7525. SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ was granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left epididymectomy residuals is granted with a 10 percent disability rating from July 31, 2014. The Veteran's bilateral knee condition and TDIU are remanded.
- Denied
The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his combined disability rating is only 40 percent and he has no single disability rated at least 60 percent disabling. The VA examiner found that the veteran's service-connected conditions alone do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 20, 2001 for a 30% disability evaluation for his service-connected left epididymectomy and varicocele, status post left radical orchiectomy and right radical orchiectomy.
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