{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/urinary-incontinence-secondary-to-back","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:22.006Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"claim":"Urinary incontinence secondary to a back condition","secondary_condition":"Urinary incontinence","service_connected_disability":"a back condition","decisions":411,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":22.6,"denied_pct":24.1,"remanded_pct":52.3,"granted_on_merits_pct":48.4,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":33,"granted_pct":15.2,"denied_pct":39.4,"remanded_pct":45.5},{"year":2018,"issues":45,"granted_pct":22.2,"denied_pct":42.2,"remanded_pct":33.3},{"year":2019,"issues":58,"granted_pct":24.1,"denied_pct":25.9,"remanded_pct":48.3},{"year":2020,"issues":46,"granted_pct":10.9,"denied_pct":23.9,"remanded_pct":63},{"year":2021,"issues":48,"granted_pct":16.7,"denied_pct":27.1,"remanded_pct":56.3},{"year":2022,"issues":42,"granted_pct":16.7,"denied_pct":23.8,"remanded_pct":59.5},{"year":2023,"issues":40,"granted_pct":35,"denied_pct":10,"remanded_pct":55},{"year":2024,"issues":50,"granted_pct":22,"denied_pct":14,"remanded_pct":62},{"year":2025,"issues":53,"granted_pct":37.7,"denied_pct":17,"remanded_pct":45.3}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":79.6,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":64,"granted_pct_with":63.8,"granted_pct_without":43.4},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":330,"granted_pct_with":45.3,"granted_pct_without":64.5},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":79,"granted_pct_with":76.7,"granted_pct_without":35.6},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":244,"granted_pct_with":41.9,"granted_pct_without":60.3},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":132,"granted_pct_with":57.6,"granted_pct_without":41.1},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":319,"granted_pct_with":46,"granted_pct_without":61.3}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":17},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":8},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":4},{"reason":"criteria for secondary service connection met","decisions":3},{"reason":"secondary to lumbar spine disability","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":20},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":11},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":8},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":8},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":7},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":6}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"26001703","year":2026,"judge":"ERIC S. LEBOFF","rationale":"Evidence in approximate balance for requiring absorbent materials changed less than 2 times per day; Weight of evidence against higher rating; Criteria for 20% rating met"},{"case_id":"25014833","year":2025,"judge":"NATHANIEL DOAN","rationale":"Evidence in approximate balance; Resolved reasonable doubt in veteran's favor; VA opinions lacked specific rationale; Incontinence can be caused by chronic medical conditions"},{"case_id":"25014740","year":2025,"judge":"ANTHONY C. SCIRÉ, JR","rationale":"Linked to service-connected quadriplegia; Spinal cord injury affects bladder/bowel function"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26003964","year":2026,"judge":"JONATHAN B. KRAMER","rationale":"VA examiner opined UI was less likely than not related to service-connected conditions.; Prostate brachytherapy identified as a more likely cause of UI.; No evidence of multi-link causal chain or inability to treat UI due to service-connected disabilities."},{"case_id":"A25110751","year":2025,"judge":"MATTHEW W. BLACKWELDER","rationale":"Incontinence more likely due to prostate cancer/tumor; No evidence of incontinence related to service-connected back/radiculopathy; VA examiners concluded cancer was the cause"},{"case_id":"A25096501","year":2025,"judge":"B.T. KNOPE","rationale":"No current diagnosis of bowel incontinence; No complaints of bowel incontinence in service or post-service records; March 2018 VA exam found no bowel problems"}]},"how_argued":{"note":"From keyword matches in each issue's AI summary and rationale, not the full decision. Only issues whose text names a medical link are counted under pathways; one issue can name several. A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.","issues":423,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":123,"granted_pct":6.5},"causation_only":{"issues":300,"granted_pct":29},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":18.9,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Nerve involvement","issues":65,"granted_pct":20,"examples":[{"case_id":"25014740","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Medical opinions attributed the incontinence to disruption of nerve signals from the spinal cord injury."},{"case_id":"A26003964","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The veteran claims entitlement to service connection for urinary incontinence (UI) as secondary to his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy and/or degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine."}]},{"pathway":"Stress","issues":13,"granted_pct":23.1,"examples":[{"case_id":"A25005816","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Competent evidence shows lumbar radiculopathy caused stress urinary incontinence."},{"case_id":"21002713","year":2021,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"VA examinations indicated normal MRIs and EMG studies, suggesting the condition was more consistent with age-related pelvic floor weakness or stress urinary incontinence, rather than the service-connected back disability."}]}]},"how_va_rates":null,"requirements":"38 CFR 3.310: a current diagnosis, a service-connected disability, and medical evidence that it caused (3.310(a)) or aggravated (3.310(b)) the condition."}}