That doesn't necessarily mean it was a ticket with a direct connection - the International flight could have been at any time, even a month later. Some VUSA type fares require that endorsement so any airline staffer would see it as a cross referenced ticket allowing the cheaper VUSA fare, not necessarily as a direct connection/transfer onto another flight.

If the travel agent didn't make the booking with both flight legs at the same time, then UA's system wouldn't be showing the connecting flight as an information sector.