The Veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia is reopened, but the condition is not found to be related to his military service.,Service connection for upper and lower back pain is denied as there is no evidence that the condition began during or was caused by his military service.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus/flat feet is denied because it preexisted his entry into active service and the presumption of soundness applies.,Service connection for ED secondary to sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence showing worsening of the condition due to a service-connected disability.,Service connection for bilateral tinea pedis (Athlete’s Foot) is denied because there is no evidence that it began during or was caused by his military service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.,Service connection for vertigo is denied as the condition does not meet the criteria to be considered secondary to a service-connected disability.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's schizophrenia was not shown to have begun during or been caused by his military service, and there is no evidence of an in-service injury, event, or disease that could cause such a disorder.,There is no evidence showing the upper and lower back condition began during active service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support finding that it was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus/flat feet preexisted his entry into active service, and the presumption of soundness applies. Therefore, he cannot bring a claim for service-connected aggravation of this condition.,There is no evidence showing worsening of the ED due to a service-connected disability. The condition was not shown to have begun during or be related to military service.,The Veteran's bilateral tinea pedis (Athlete’s Foot) did not begin during active service, and there is no evidence that it was caused by an in-service injury, event, or disease.,There is no current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes. The preponderance of the evidence does not support finding a current disability related to military service.,The Veteran's vertigo did not begin during active service and there is no evidence that it was caused by an in-service injury, event, or disease.

Claimed conditions

Schizophrenia, Upper and Lower Back Pain, Bilateral Pes Planus/Flat Feet, Erectile Dysfunction (ED), Bilateral Tinea Pedis (Athlete’s Foot), Bilateral Hearing Loss, Vertigo

How they argued it

Reopened with new and material evidence

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

January 10, 2019

Citation

19102344