🎖️ VALOR

Samuel Gravely Jr.: The Sailor Who Broke Racial Barriers 

Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. was born in Richmond, VA, on June 4, 1922, the oldest of five children in a segregated South that set firm limits on what Black Americans were “supposed” to become. He attended Virginia Union University but left before graduating to join the Naval Reserve in 1942, determined to serve even as the Navy itself was still wrestling with integration.

He trained at Great Lakes, entered the V-12 Navy College Training Program at UCLA, and completed Midshipmen’s School at Columbia University. On Dec. 14, 1944, he was commissioned as an ensign, just months after the “Golden Thirteen” broke the barrier as the Navy’s first Black officers. Gravely began his sea career aboard USS PC-1264 as its only Black officer, serving on one of the few ships with a predominantly Black enlisted crew during World War II.

After the war, he returned home, finished his degree in history, and briefly stepped away from active duty. In 1949, he was recalled to service. What followed was not a sudden leap upward but a steady climb built on competence. During the Korean War, he served aboard USS Iowa as a communications officer and later specialized in naval communications, building a reputation for precision and professionalism.

The 1960s marked a series of firsts for him and military society. In 1961, Gravely became the first African American to command a U.S. Navy warship, USS Theodore E. Chandler. He later commanded USS Falgout and, during the Vietnam War, USS Taussig, becoming the first Black officer to lead a Navy ship into combat. In 1967, he was promoted to captain. In 1971, he became the Navy’s first African American rear admiral.  

Gravely went on to command Cruiser-Destroyer Group 2 and later the U.S. Third Fleet. He also served as Director of Naval Communications where he led the Defense Communications Agency before retiring in 1980 as a vice admiral, the first African American to reach flag rank in the U.S. Navy.

Gravely’s career represented more than personal achievement. He opened doors in a branch of service that had once limited Black sailors to mess duty and his legacy lives on in ships that bear his name, schools named in his honor, and an annual celebration that highlights the motto he lived by: education, motivation, perseverance.

Gravely passed away on Oct. 22, 2004, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, closing a career that stretched from segregated America to the highest levels of naval command, breaking barriers and opening new lanes all along the way.

Honor veterans like Samuel Gravely Jr. and watch more stories on our YouTube channel.

⚖️ EXPERTS

The Alternative Path to Receiving 100% Disability 

If you’re applying for a service-connected VA disability, you’ve probably encountered the VA Ratings Table. It determines your combined disability rating, and it can be frustrating fast. 

What VA Disability Ratings Represent 

VA ratings assign a percentage (10%, 30%, 70%, etc.) to each service-connected condition based on severity and how it affects daily life. The VA bases ratings on: 

• The evidence you submit (medical records, test results, personnel records, etc.). 

• Your C&P exam results. 

• Other information the VA obtains (military records, federal agencies, and more). 

How VA Math Works 

With one disability, your rating is your total. With multiple disabilities, the VA does not add percentages together. 

Instead, the VA uses a “whole person” method. Think of your body as 100%, and each new rating gets applied to what’s left. 

Here’s a simplified example: 

• Start with 30%: 100% – 30% = 70% remaining. 

• Add 20% next: 20% of 70% = 14% (which equals 44%, leaving 56%). 

• Add 10% next: 10% of 56% = 5.6%. 

• Final value: 50.4%, rounded to 50%. 

How To Use the Combined Ratings Table 

To calculate using the VA’s table: 

1. Put your ratings in order from highest to lowest. 

2. Find your highest rating in the left column. 

3. Find your next highest rating across the top row. 

4. Use the number where they meet as the combined value. 

5. Round to the nearest 10 (1–4 down, 5–9 up). 

6. Repeat for each additional rating, then round the final number. 

Why This Matters 

Combined ratings get harder to increase as you approach 100% because each added percentage is applied to a more petite remaining “able body” number. The article recommends using a VA disability calculator to estimate both your combined rating and potential compensation, without having to fight the tables. 

The Alternative Path to 100%: TDIU 

The VA can still pay at the 100% rate through Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) if you can’t maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected conditions, even if you don’t have a 100% schedular rating. 

The basic schedular threshold is: 

• One service-connected disability rated at 60% or 

• Two or more disabilities with at least one at 40% and a combined rating of 70% 

• Plus, the inability to work due to service-connected disabilities

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

🦅SUPPORT

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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

When 50 Plus 50 Doesn't Equal 100: Explaining VA Math 

In this video blog, Hill & Ponton’s video producer Nate Flemming, along with attorney Allison Reddick, break down why VA ratings don’t add up the way most veterans expect. The main point is that VA math isn’t everyday math, so two ratings don’t just stack to equal the total.

Nate first explains the rounding rule first. The VA rounds to the nearest 10, so you’ll only ever see ratings like 10, 20, 30, all the way up to 100. Then he walks through the “whole person” method: the VA starts with your highest rating, subtracts that from 100% healthy, and applies the next rating only to what’s left.

That’s why a 50% rating plus a 10% rating doesn’t equal 60% in a straight line, and why it gets harder to climb as you approach 100%.

Attorney Reddick reinforces the same concept with a typical example veterans ask about, like 70% for PTSD and 30% for migraines not equaling 100%. She explains that each new percentage is taken from the remaining “able body,” so the base number keeps shrinking.  

Nate closes by pointing viewers to Hill & Ponton’s free VA calculator to help veterans estimate combined ratings and understand what their final percentage should look like. 

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!