On the night of October 25, 2007, Specialist Salvatore Giunta and his fire team walked into a Taliban ambush from ten meters away in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. With his squad leader and teammates hit, Giunta pushed forward alone, crested a hill, and saw two insurgents dragging away his wounded friend, Sgt. Josh Brennan. He killed one, drove off the other, and stayed with Brennan until a medic reached them.

Years later, receiving the Medal of Honor as the first living recipient since Vietnam, Giunta insisted he was not a hero, just a soldier doing what anyone in his unit would have done. Most veterans downplay what happened to them during service and how it still shapes them today.

Read Salvatore Giunta's full story at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society below.

Select any condition below, and we'll send a detailed information packet to your email, covering your diagnosis and how it may affect your VA claim.

The C&P exam is usually the single biggest factor in your rating decision, but the examiner isn't making subjective judgments about your condition. They're filling out standardized Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) with specific checkboxes that map directly to rating percentages:

Same condition, same veteran. Different words, different rating.

DBQs systematically document your diagnosis, symptoms, and daily impact. For PTSD, the difference between a 30% rating and a 70% rating comes down to specifics like social isolation, panic attacks, and occupational impairment. The same checkbox logic applies to diabetes, hearing loss, knee injuries, or any other condition.

Examiners need concrete examples, not brave faces. Instead of "my knee bothers me sometimes," tell them you can't kneel to play with your kids, or that you wake up three times a night trying to find a comfortable position. Hill & Ponton's C&P dos and don'ts breaks down exactly what examiners need to hear.

Most veterans don't know they can request a copy of their C&P exam results. Once you have it, compare what you told the examiner to what they actually documented:

Before your next exam, write down specific examples of how each condition affects your daily life. Concrete details, not general statements about pain or difficulty.

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

🗺️ TACTICS

This 7-minute guide walks through the specific questions diabetes C&P examiners ask and shows you how to document complications like neuropathy and blood sugar management issues that directly impact your rating. You'll learn which medical records to bring and how to explain the real-world impact of managing this condition as a veteran.

Were you prescribed Dupixent (dupilumab) and later diagnosed with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL)?

Recent studies have linked long-term Dupixent use to an increased risk of CTCL, a rare skin cancer. If you took Dupixent for at least one month and were diagnosed with CTCL—or a subtype like Mycosis fungoides or Sézary syndrome—after your first dose, you may be eligible to file a claim.

Find out if you qualify. The case review is free and confidential.

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.