The Board finds that the Veteran's bowel and bladder incontinence are not secondary to his service-connected back disorder, as evidenced by VA examination reports and medical records indicating no structural abnormalities or damage to the spinal cord. The evidence does not support a finding of nerve damage from the service-connected back injury.
The deciding factor: The imaging studies do not document any damage to the Veteran's spinal cord, and there is no evidence of aggravation of his in-service back injury.
- Claimed conditions
- Bowel and Bladder Incontinence
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 16, 2011
- Citation
- 1118792
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1118792.
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: Denied
The Veteran's hip, knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are not service connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after service. The Veteran's bowel and bladder incontinence is also not service connected due to lack of a nexus between the condition and her military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
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