The Board denied service connection for urinary incontinence as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's bowel incontinence is remanded due to inadequate examination report and the need for a new one.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinions provided that the Veteran’s urinary urge incontinence was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Claimed conditions
- Urinary Incontinence, Hairline Fracture of Middle Phalanx of Middle Finger, Bowel Incontinence
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18158908
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 18158908.
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 Veteran is granted earlier effective dates of April 1, 2016 for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance, loss of use of both feet, and under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o) and (r)(1).,These awards are in full grant of the benefit sought as the Veteran's attorney explicitly requested an effective date in April 2016.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for urinary incontinence, lumbar radiculopathy, and erectile dysfunction due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence and opinions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's prostate cancer with voiding dysfunction is rated at 20 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for bowel incontinence is granted. The Veteran's prostate cancer symptoms do not warrant an increased rating, but his bowel incontinence is found to be consistent with the criteria for a 10 percent rating.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is found to be eligible for enrollment in the PCAFC program due to his severe and complex medical conditions, which require personal care services.
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