14-34 721, 14-34 721

Veteran served on active duty (Navy) 1963–1966 and has service‑connected PTSD; he sought an increased rating beginning October 26, 2010.
RO increased PTSD rating from 30% to 50% (July 2012) and later to 70% (April 2015); appeal to the Board remained pending seeking a higher rating.
Veteran requested a VLJ hearing but did not appear; the hearing request was deemed withdrawn.
Board considered whether symptoms produced total occupational and social impairment warranting a 100% rating under Diagnostic Code 9411 (38 C.F.R. § 4.130).
VA examinations and treatment records (including Feb 2015 VA PTSD exam) showed relationships and functioning inconsistent with total social/occupational impairment.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Entitlement to rating in excess of 70% for PTSD (i.e., 100% rating)	Veteran asserted his PTSD produces total occupational and social impairment and thus merits 100%	Board/VA argued record lacks evidence of total social/occupational impairment or 100% level symptoms	Denied; preponderance of evidence shows impairments consistent with 70%, not total impairment

Brady v. Brown, 4 Vet.App. 203 (1993) (avoids pyramiding; same symptomatology cannot be compensated twice)
AB v. Brown, 6 Vet.App. 35 (1993) (award of increased rating during appeal does not moot pending appeal)
Francisco v. Brown, 7 Vet.App. 55 (1994) (focus on present level of disability when adjudicating increases)
Doucette v. Shulkin, 28 Vet.App. 366 (2017) (Board need not address issues not raised by claimant or reasonably raised by record)
Scott v. McDonald, 789 F.3d 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (Board not required to search record and raise procedural arguments not urged by claimant)
Dickens v. McDonald, 814 F.3d 1359 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (applies Scott to duty to assist arguments)