Henry Johnson was born around July 15, 1892, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He moved to Albany, New York, as a teenager and worked wherever he could find work: as a chauffeur, soda mixer and redcap porter at the Albany Union Station.  

Johnson enlisted on June 5, 1917, joining the all-black New York National Guard 15th Infantry Regiment, later redesignated as the 369th Infantry Regiment and known as the Harlem Hellfighters. When General Pershing refused to integrate Black troops into white American units, the 369th was loaned to the French Army, which welcomed them without hesitation. 

Assigned to an outpost on the edge of the Argonne Forest, Johnson was on sentry duty when a German raiding party of up to 36 soldiers attacked under cover of darkness. He fought them off alone. When his rifle jammed, he used the butt as a club, then pulled out his bolo knife. He suffered 21 wounds, rescued fellow soldier Needham Roberts from capture, and sent the Germans retreating into the night.  

The French awarded him the Croix de guerre with a golden palm. However, despite these heroic actions and foreign acknowledgment, he mostly existed in obscurity back home. 

Recognition came in pieces and far too late, with him being awarded a Purple Heart in 1996, followed by a Distinguished Service Cross in 2003. It took until June 2, 2015, nearly a century after that night in the Argonne Forest, for then-President Barack Obama to present Henry Johnson with the Medal of Honor posthumously. 

Johnson spent his life being overlooked by the country he bled for, but his story is still a reminder that valor and recognition do not always arrive together, and that some debts take generations to acknowledge. 

Honor veterans like Henry Johnson and watch more stories on our YouTube channel.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating condition that disproportionately affects Gulf War veterans, often tied to chemical exposures, oil well fire smoke, infectious diseases, and other service-related hazards.

Symptoms can range from persistent exhaustion to near-total loss offunction, and the condition is recognized by VA as a presumptivedisability for veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater on orafter August 2, 1990.

VA rates CFS under diagnostic code 6354 based on the extent to which symptoms restrict daily activity

VA Ratings for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Ratings are assigned based on symptom severity and how much daily function has been lost: 

How to Service-Connect Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Veterans must provide three things to establish a claim: 

Secondary Conditions That Can Increase Compensation 

CFS frequently occurs alongside other conditions that may qualify for separate ratings, including: 

If Your Claim Is Denied or Underrated 

Veterans can file a supplemental claim with new evidence, request a higher-level review, or appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals. Applying for TDIU is also an option if CFS prevents maintaining full-time employment. 

If you’re facing challenges with your claim and need assistance, reach out for a free case evaluation.

This weekly livestream goes beyond Q&A. In addition to answering your questions about VA disability law and the claims process, our legal team now features more information about the claims process than ever before. Comments open 1 hour prior to the Livestream starting, so get there early to get your question in. We try to answer as many as we can!

Many U.S. veterans were exposed to asbestos during their time in service, often without knowing the risks. Years later, this exposure has led to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related lung cancers for countless veterans.

If you served in the military and have been diagnosed, you may qualify for compensation. Our firm proudly helps veterans and their families pursue the benefits and justice they deserve.

Act now. Contact us today at (855) 494-1298 to learn more about your options or to begin your claim. You’ve served your country; let us serve you.

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Chronic pain is one of the most misunderstood conditions in the VA claims process, and for years, veterans had no clear path to compensation for it. In this video, attorney Allison Reddick breaks down what chronic pain actually is, how VA treats it, and what veterans need to know to build a successful claim. 

The key distinction attorney Reddick draws here is between acute and chronic pain. Acute pain follows an injury and eventually resolves. Chronic pain does not. It lasts for 3 to 6 months, and for most veterans, it never fully goes away. It does not need to be constant at the same intensity either. A dull ache one day and debilitating pain the next can both qualify, as long as the pain is continuous and affects daily life. 

Prior to 2018, veterans could not be service-connected for chronic pain alone because VA required a diagnosable condition. That changed after a Federal Circuit case called Sanders v. Wilkie, which opened the door for veterans to establish service connection for chronic pain caused by something that happened in service, even without a formal diagnosis tied to it. 

Attorney Reddick also walks through the secondary conditions that commonly develop alongside chronic pain, including depression, insomnia, fatigue, anger issues, and substance abuse. Each can qualify for its own VA rating if a doctor links it to the service-connected condition. The difference is that secondary conditions do require a formal diagnosis, while chronic pain itself may not. 

If you are living with persistent pain that traces back to your service, document your treatment history, get a medical opinion, and do not assume your claim has to be straightforward to succeed. 

At Hill & Ponton, we specialize in helping veterans navigate the VA appeals process to secure the benefits they rightfully deserve. Whether you're facing a denied claim, an appeal for a higher rating, or need assistance gathering critical evidence, our team is ready to advocate for you.

Use our VA Disability Calculator to see if your current rating aligns with your level of disability and explore potential increases based on any secondary conditions you may have. Calculate Your VA Disability Rating Now!