Everett Emerson v. Robert A. McDonald

BARTLEY, Judge:

Veteran Everett Emerson appeals through counsel a May 12, 2014, Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) decision that denied (1) an effective date earlier than August 23, 2010, for the award of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and (2) an initial PTSD disability evaluation in excess of 50%. Record (R.) at 3-22. 1 The veteran’s PTSD service-connection claim was initially denied in February 2003 but thereafter granted in June 2011 based upon an amendment to 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f), which altered the requirements regarding verification of in-service stressors.…