🎖️ VALOR

A Different Kind of Warrior: Desmond Doss’s Stand for Conviction

Desmond Doss grew up in Lynchburg, VA, in a devout Seventh-day Adventist home that shaped his lifelong belief in the commandment “Thou shalt not kill.” He worked at the Newport News shipyard when World War II broke out.

Rather than accept a deferment, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, determined to serve without carrying a weapon. He called himself a “conscientious cooperator,” not an objector: someone who wanted to save lives, not take them.

Assigned to the 77th Infantry Division’s 307th Infantry Regiment as a company aidman, Doss faced hostility during training. Fellow soldiers mocked and threatened him for refusing to bear arms. But that changed in combat. On Guam and Leyte, his calm under fire and commitment to wounded men earned him two Bronze Stars for valor.

His defining moment came on Okinawa in April 1945, on a 400-foot cliff called the Maeda Escarpment, known as Hacksaw Ridge. When his unit was driven back by overwhelming Japanese fire, Doss stayed behind on the plateau. For hours, through smoke and bullets, he crawled from soldier to soldier, dressing wounds and dragging them to the cliff’s edge.

Using a rope sling he tied by hand, he lowered each man down the escarpment to safety. By night’s end, he had rescued roughly 75 soldiers, some from his own company and some from nearby units. Each time he finished one rescue, he whispered the same prayer: “Lord, please help me get one more.”

Days later, he was severely wounded by a grenade blast but refused evacuation until others were treated. After giving up his stretcher to a more critically injured man, a sniper shattered his arm. Doss splinted it with a rifle stock and crawled about 300 yards to reach help.

On Oct. 12, 1945, then-President Harry S. Truman awarded him the Medal of Honor, making Doss the first conscientious objector in American history to receive the nation’s highest military decoration.

The war left Doss with lasting injuries and tuberculosis, yet he continued to live quietly, guided by faith and service. He spent his later years speaking to churches, schools, and veterans about conviction and courage. Doss died in 2006 in Piedmont, AL, and is buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery.

His legacy endures because it captures the rarest kind of valor: the courage to live by conviction, to risk everything for others, and to prove that heroism doesn’t depend on the weapon in your hand but on the strength of your heart.

Honor veterans like Desmond Doss and watch more stories on our YouTube channel.

⚖️ EXPERTS

Understanding the Distinction Between VA 100% Disability & TDIU

Understanding 100% VA Disability vs. TDIU 

Veterans often qualify for either a 100% VA disability rating or Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU)—two paths that provide the same level of monthly compensation but have key differences in eligibility and work restrictions. 

What Is 100% VA Disability? 

A 100% rating is given when service-connected conditions meet the criteria for a total disability rating. 

This means your conditions have a severe impact on daily life, and the VA officially recognizes you as 100% disabled. 

Who Qualifies for 100% Disability? 

• Veterans whose conditions meet the full criteria for a 100% rating under VA diagnostic codes. 

• Veterans with multiple conditions that combine to a 100% total rating. 

• No work restrictions—you can still hold employment. 

What Is TDIU? 

Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) allows veterans to receive compensation at the 100% rate even if their combined rating is below 100%, as long as service-connected disabilities prevent them from maintaining substantially gainful employment. 

Who Qualifies for TDIU? 

• Veterans unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities. 

• Veterans with one disability rated at least 60%, or multiple disabilities with one rated at least 40% and a combined rating of 70% or more. 

• Work restrictions apply—earnings generally must stay below the poverty level unless employment is considered marginal. 

Key Differences Between 100% and TDIU 

Can the VA Change Your Rating? 

Yes. Both 100% and TDIU ratings can be reevaluated if the VA determines that your condition has improved. 

However, some cases are deemed permanent and total (P&T)—in those cases, your benefits are protected from reduction in most circumstances. 

How to Strengthen Your Claim 

• Gather medical evidence documenting the impact of your disabilities on employment. 

• Include employer statements or Social Security records showing job loss or work limitations. 

• Work with a veterans disability attorney to ensure your claim includes all necessary evidence. 

Support and Resources 

• Hill & Ponton Legal Team: Free case evaluations for veterans seeking TDIU or 100% ratings. 

• Educational Resources: Learn how to document employment impact and appeal rating decisions. 

• VA Appeals Process: Veterans can challenge low or denied ratings through supplemental claims or higher-level reviews. 

Making the Right Choice 

If your service-connected conditions make it impossible to work, TDIU may provide the same compensation as a 100% rating. If you can still work despite severe disabilities, a schedular 100% rating may be more appropriate. 

Either way, understanding both options ensures you receive the full benefits you’ve earned. 

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

🦅SUPPORT

Attention: Join us every Tuesday at 1400 hours EST for a new Livestream with our legal team!

Join us to get your questions about VA disability law and the claims process answered by our legal team. 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!

Were You Exposed to Asbestos During Military Service?

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.

🗺️ TACTICS

How Do You Get Unemployability While Working?

In this video, Hill & Ponton attorneys Stacey Clark and Ursula Mecabe discuss one of the most complex parts of Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU): determining when a veteran’s work qualifies as substantially gainful employment versus marginal employment.

They explain that TDIU benefits are available to veterans who can’t maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

While VA regulations set a clear financial threshold using the federal poverty level, the rule isn’t absolute. Some veterans earning more may qualify if their job exists in a sheltered or protected work environment, where special accommodations or leniency are provided because of disability.

The attorneys note that the VA does not consistently define sheltered or protected work, leading to uneven case outcomes. Courts are still working toward clearer guidance, but veterans must rely on strong documentation such as Social Security earnings, employer records, and written descriptions of workplace accommodations to prove that employment remains marginal.

Attorneys Clark and Mecabe also caution that VA routinely checks income through annual Social Security reports. If a veteran’s earnings appear above the poverty threshold, the VA may send a verification letter and, in some cases, propose to sever unemployability benefits. Veterans should respond quickly with financial proof and explanations to prevent interruptions in compensation.

Ultimately, the discussion highlights that TDIU isn’t just about income; it’s about employability. Veterans must clearly demonstrate how their service-connected disabilities limit their ability to sustain meaningful work and remain vigilant in maintaining their hard-earned benefits.

Need Help with an Appeal? Hill & Ponton is Here for You

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!