If you’ve been denied by the VA or given a disability rating that doesn’t reflect the true impact of your condition, you’re far from alone. Many Arkansas veterans begin their claims with hope, only to be met with confusing paperwork and decisions that just don’t add up. The VA system is complicated and often unforgiving. One small mistake or missing medical detail can lead to a denial that keeps you from receiving the benefits you’ve earned through years of service.
That’s where we come in. At Hill & Ponton, VA disability law is all we do. Our VA-accredited attorneys focus exclusively on helping veterans appeal denied or underrated claims. We understand the process, we know how to build strong medical and legal cases, and we fight to get you the outcome you deserve.
More than 175,000 veterans call Arkansas home – and over 36% report living with a disability, a rate significantly higher than the civilian population. But it doesn’t mean you have to quietly live with your health issues without proper recognition or compensation from the VA. Contact us for a free case evaluation. We never charge upfront, and we only get paid if we win. Even if we don’t take your case, we’ll point you in the right direction.
Our Legal Services
- Disability Compensation: We help you obtain the compensation you’re entitled to receive for service-connected physical and mental health conditions. We gather medical records, service documentation, and expert opinions to build a strong, evidence-based case and secure every dollar you’ve earned.
- Appeals: If the VA denied your claim or issued a rating that doesn’t match the true impact of your condition, our lawyers will take charge of the appeals process and argue the case on your behalf to maximize your benefits.
- Rating Increases: If your health has declined since the VA’s original decision, you may be entitled to a higher disability rating and greater monthly benefits.
- DIC and Survivor Benefits: We proudly assist the spouses, children, and parents of Mississippi service members who passed away in the line of duty or from service-connected conditions. Our attorneys help families apply for survivor benefits, ensuring they receive the financial and emotional support they’re entitled to under VA and state programs.
- Special Monthly Compensation: Veterans living with severe or multiple disabilities may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation, an additional payment above the standard 100% disability rate.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability: If your service-connected conditions make it difficult or impossible to maintain full-time employment, you may qualify for TDIU, which pays at the 100% disability rate even if your combined rating is lower. We help prove unemployability through detailed medical, vocational, and service-related evidence, ensuring you receive the full compensation you deserve.
What Compensation and Benefits Are Available to You?
Your VA disability rating is more than just a number: it determines the level of financial and medical support you’re entitled to after serving your country. This rating is assigned by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs based on how seriously your service-connected condition affects your ability to function, whether at work, at home, or in everyday life.
Ratings range from 10% to 100%, increasing in 10% steps. Each level represents greater impairment and a higher monthly, tax-free payment. If you’re living with more than one service-connected condition, the VA uses a combined ratings formula, which usually results in a lower total than simply adding the numbers. That’s why precision in your claim is critical. Even a small jump in your rating can make a big difference in your monthly compensation.
Here are the current VA monthly compensation rates for a single veteran with no dependents:
- 10%: $175.51
- 20%: $346.95
- 30%: $537.42
- 40%: $774.16
- 50%: $1,102.04
- 60%: $1,395.93
- 70%: $1,759.19
- 80%: $2,044.89
- 90%: $2,297.96
- 100%: $3,831.30
The VA updates these figures each year to reflect cost-of-living adjustments and veterans with spouses, children, or dependent parents also qualify for additional amounts. You can calculate your compensation with our VA Disability Calculator.
Arkansas State Benefits for Disabled Veterans
In addition to federal VA compensation, veterans living in Arkansas may be eligible for state-level benefits, including real estate tax exemptions, vehicle registration discounts, education benefits and hiring preferences.
If you’re currently unable to access some of these opportunities because your rating is too low, our lawyers can help you challenge the VA decision and fight for every benefit you deserve, both at the federal and state level.
Work with us to get your benefits
When Should You Hire a VA Disability Lawyer?
Most Arkansas veterans begin their VA disability claims on their own. But if that initial claim is denied, or the VA assigns a rating that doesn’t reflect the true impact of the disability, that’s when having a skilled VA disability lawyer can make all the difference.
The VA appeals system is detailed and time-sensitive. With constantly changing rules and strict requirements for evidence and filing, even a small error or missed deadline can block access to much-needed benefits.
That’s where Hill & Ponton comes in. We’re a law firm that focuses 100% on VA disability appeals. Our attorneys understand the unique challenges Arkansas veterans face, from accessing care in rural areas to navigating long wait times at VA regional offices. We use our deep knowledge of VA law and procedure to help you build a strong appeal that fully represents your health, your service, and the life you live today.
Your VA Appeal Options
- Supplemental Claim: If you’ve found new or relevant evidence (like recent medical records or service documents that weren’t part of your original file), this allows the VA to re-evaluate your case.
- Higher-Level Review: If you believe the VA made a mistake, you can ask for a more senior reviewer to take another look. This option doesn’t require new evidence and can be one of the fastest ways to correct an error.
- Board of Veterans’ Appeals Review: This is the most comprehensive appeal level. You can choose a direct review, submit new evidence, or have a hearing with a Veterans Law Judge to make your case in person or virtually.
If the VA isn’t fully acknowledging how your service-connected condition affects your life, we want to hear your story. Our lawyers are ready to stand with you and fight for the benefits you’ve earned. There are no upfront costs, and your case evaluation is completely free. Reach out today to talk about your appeal.
What You Need to Win Your VA Appeal
Too many veterans get stuck in the VA system, frustrated by delays, denials, or low ratings that don’t reflect the reality of their condition. In most cases, it’s not because the veteran doesn’t qualify for benefits. It’s because the VA didn’t receive the right information or failed to clearly connect the veteran’s service to their disability. To approve a disability claim, the VA needs three essential elements:
- Current Diagnosis: Documentation from a medical professional confirming you have a current, ongoing condition.
- An In-Service Event: Proof that something occurred during your military service (an injury, illness, exposure, or trauma) that could have caused or worsened your condition.
- Nexus: A professional opinion stating that your condition is “at least as likely as not” related to your military service.
Without solid evidence covering all three, even strong claims can be denied or underrated. Common reasons for denial include missing or weak nexus, incomplete or outdated medical records, VA errors, or missed deadlines for appeals and evidence submissions.
Our accredited attorneys partner with trusted medical professionals to secure detailed nexus letters and gather the evidence needed to make your case as complete and accurate as possible.
Tell us about your claim
VA Disability for Toxic Exposure
Arkansas has played an important role in supporting U.S. military operations for decades, through its Air Force bases, Army facilities, and National Guard sites spread across the state. From Blytheville to Jacksonville to Fort Smith, thousands of service members have trained, deployed, and lived at installations now known to have significant environmental risks.
- Little Rock Air Force Base (Jacksonville, AR) – This active-duty installation has been identified by the Department of Defense as a site with confirmed PFAS contamination, primarily from the historic use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) during firefighting training exercises. Veterans who lived or worked on base may have been exposed through contaminated soil, groundwater, or direct handling of hazardous substances.
- Pine Bluff Arsenal (Pine Bluff, AR) – This U.S. Army facility has a long history of chemical weapons storage and disposal. The site has been subject to EPA-supervised remediation due to contamination from volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, heavy metals, and chemical incineration byproducts. Veterans who served here may have faced chronic exposure to harmful environmental toxins.
- Fort Chaffee (Fort Smith, AR) – Fort Chaffee has been associated with multiple sources of environmental contamination. Training operations and maintenance activities on base have left behind solvents, petroleum-based pollutants, and industrial waste. Veterans stationed here may have been exposed during field exercises or through extended housing assignments.
- Eaker Air Force Base (Blytheville, AR) – Formerly known as Blytheville Air Force Base, Eaker AFB has been officially listed among sites with severe PFAS contamination. Veterans who served here (especially those in firefighting, maintenance, or flight line roles) may have experienced significant toxic exposure.
If you served at these or any other U.S. military installation with known environmental contamination, and you’ve developed a serious health condition, you could be eligible for VA disability compensation. Even if your initial claim was denied, new findings and updated VA policies may now open the door to disability benefits. Let us help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
Legal Resources and Lawyers Near You
Little Rock
Pulaski County VA Office: 2401 John Ashley Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72114 | Phone: (501) 370‑3820
Hot Springs
Garland County Veteran Service Office: 501 Ouachita Ave, Room 105, Hot Springs, AR 71901 | Phone: (501) 622‑3795
Arkansas VA Facilities Providing Veteran Assistance
Vet centers
- Fayetteville Vet Center: 1905 East Mission Boulevard, Suite 2, Fayetteville, AR. Phone: 479‑582‑7152
- Little Rock Vet Center: 10800 Financial Centre Parkway, Suite 175, North Little Rock, AR. Phone: 501‑918‑1800
VA Medical Centers and Clinics
- John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital: 4300 West Seventh Street, Little Rock, AR. Phone: 501‑257‑1000
- Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center: 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, AR.
- Fayetteville VA Medical Center: 1100 North College Avenue, Fayetteville, AR. Phone: 479‑443‑4301
- El Dorado VA Clinic: 1702 North West Avenue, El Dorado, AR.
- Conway VA Clinic: 1520 East Dave Ward Drive, Conway, AR.
- Mountain Home VA Clinic: 759 Highway 62 E, Twin Lakes Plaza, Suite 331, Mountain Home, AR.
- Little Rock VA Clinic: 1000 Main Street, Little Rock, AR.
- Jonesboro VA Clinic: 1843 East Highland Drive, Suite B, Jonesboro, AR.
Housing Assistance and Support for Veterans
In recent years, Arkansas has strengthened support for veterans experiencing housing instability or homelessness, with initiatives such as HUD-VASH funding for Fayetteville Housing Authority and the Housing Authority of the City of Hot Springs in 2024. Through coordinated federal, state, and nonprofit efforts, veterans across the state now have more access to transitional housing, vouchers, case management, and legal support.
The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) operates a robust Homeless Veteran Care program in Little Rock, offering outreach, case management, residential treatment, and placement services. CAVHS also runs Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs, including a homeless domiciliary option that provides structured, 24/7 residential care to veterans in need of stability and support.
Supportive Services for Veteran Families Arkansas helps veteran households that are either experiencing homelessness or at immediate risk of losing housing. The program offers rapid re‑housing, eviction prevention, and short-term financial aid (rent, utilities, deposits).
At Hill & Ponton, we know that housing instability and financial hardship often go hand in hand with a denied or underrated VA claim. That’s why our attorneys focus solely on VA disability appeals, helping veterans facing homelessness, eviction, or unemployment get the benefits they’ve earned. If your claim was denied or your rating is too low, we’ll review your case at no upfront cost. Reach out today for a free case evaluation.