Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was the first woman awarded the Medal of Honor and, to this day, the only one. She earned it as the first female surgeon in the U.S. Army, treating wounded soldiers at Bull Run and Chickamauga before spending four months in a Confederate prison. In 1917, a War Department board tightened the criteria and rescinded her award along with 910 others. Walker refused. She kept wearing it every day, right up to the day she died two years later.

Her family kept fighting. In 1977, sixty years after the rescission, the Army restored her name to the Medal of Honor Roll. Walker understood what many veterans forget: a bureaucratic decision isn't final, especially when it's wrong.

Read Mary Edwards Walker's full story 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 effective date determines when your benefits start, and errors in this field rank among the most common VA mistakes. Years of back pay can hang in the balance. Your decision letter shows the date the VA chose and the reasoning behind it. Compare it against:

If something looks off, you have one shot to contest it within the appeal period. After that, only a clear and unmistakable error (CUE) can reopen the decision.

Learn how effective dates and back pay work in complex cases.

Scan your decision letter for the word deferred. The VA sometimes grants some conditions but defers others for additional development, then never follows up. A deferred PTSD claim, sleep apnea condition, or secondary issue might be sitting in limbo while you assume it was denied. The letter lists them specifically, giving you ammunition to demand action on claims that should have been decided months ago.

Ratings held for five years or more cannot be reduced without clear evidence of sustained improvement. The VA has to prove that your condition actually improved, not just second-guess the original decision. Protection is especially meaningful for:

Understanding this protection helps you push back if the VA ever tries to unfairly lower your rating.

Your complete VA rating decision contains legal rights and protections most veterans never realize they have.

Read your entire decision letter today, not just the rating percentage on the first page.

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

🗺️ TACTICS

This eleven-minute breakdown shows exactly how the VA calculates effective dates and why getting yours wrong could cost you tens of thousands in back pay. You'll learn the specific rules the VA follows and the common errors that slip through their review process.

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.