In military service, the right equipment and resources can lead to mission success, and the same holds true for your disability claim. At Hill & Ponton, we focus on disability appeals and increases, giving you a place to turn to when the VA denies or underrates you.
We’re VA-accredited attorneys with decades of experience fighting for disabled veterans in California and nationwide to get the VA benefits they’re entitled to.
Thanks to our unique focus on serving disabled veterans, we maintain a remarkable 96% success rate assisting veterans who struggle to obtain their rightfully earned benefits, in California and nationwide. In fact, we win 96% of the cases we take. We’d be honored to represent you and fight on your behalf.
Our California Lawyers Can Help Secure All the VA Benefits You’re Entitled to Receive
- Disability compensation: Standard compensation entitles you to tax-free monthly payments in an amount based on the disability rating and the number of dependents.
- Total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU): You may qualify for compensation if your disability is severe enough to prevent you from maintaining “substantial gainful employment”. Our attorneys can help you prove to the VA that you need TDIU.
- Special monthly compensation (SMC): Some veterans can receive additional payments beyond the 100% rate for specific severe disabilities. We help you find out if you qualify and fight to obtain everything you’re eligible for.
- Dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC): Monthly compensation for surviving spouses and dependent children of veterans who died from service-related conditions.
- Healthcare benefits: Disabled veterans have access to VA Medical Centers in California and other U.S. states for primary care, specialty services, mental health treatment, prescription medications, and medical equipment.
- Vocational rehabilitation and employment (VR&E): You may qualify for training, education funding and other types of support to help you start a new career.
Disability Ratings and Compensation
Your disability rating corresponds to the severity of your disability, which affects how much compensation you receive. The VA calculates this rating by determining how much your disability affects your earning capacity. Ratings range from 0% to 100% (total disability).
This is how much a veteran in California, unmarried and with no dependents, might earn per month based on their overall rating:
- 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
You disability compensation will vary based on the number of dependents. Use our VA Disability Calculator to estimate how much you could receive and contact our legal team to evaluate your claim.
In addition to monthly compensation and federal benefits, California also offers its own benefits to disabled veterans in the state.
Work with us to get your benefits
A California Veteran’s Story: Terry R.
After the VA denied my original disability claim, I decided to appeal the case using a legal firm to represent me. The first firm I contacted emailed back that they weren’t interested and recommended that I work with a local facilitator (like the American Legion). The second firm wanted the case, but when I couldn’t get in touch with the attorney who was to handle the case to ask a few questions, I crossed them off my list.
The third firm was Hill & Ponton. They contacted me to schedule a phone call with senior partner Sara Hill. Within several days, she and I had an hour-long phone conversation. It was clear that she had already read the original filing and the denial paperwork. Her observation was that their firm sees many cases like mine (deserving, but denied without the reviewer closely inspecting the information submitted about the claim).
She reviewed with me, in general, how she would proceed with the case, which made perfect sense. We agreed to the terms of a contingency retainer, which provided that Hill & Ponton would get compensated only if they won an appeal on my behalf. During the coming months, the firm did an excellent job of keeping me posted on what was happening and sent me copies of everything for my file. And I could always reach Sara or one of her aides if I had questions.
Sara’s strategy was to initially submit an appeal using the Review by a Higher Authority option. After about 4 months after filing it, she received a notice that the VA was approving my appeal at the 100% level, retroactive to my initial claim filing date. To say the least, I was ecstatic.
How Long Does a VA Appeal Take With an Attorney?
You have several options for appealing a VA disability denial:
- Supplemental claim: Filing a supplemental claim is an option if you have new evidence that you didn’t include with your original submission.
- Higher-level review: If you believe your claim was denied in error, you can ask for a higher-level reviewer to take a second look. The higher-level reviewer can only review the evidence you submitted with your original claim.
- Board appeal: Choosing a board appeal ensures that a Veterans Law Judge reviews your case.
Without an attorney, it typically takes 12 months for the Board of Veterans’ Appeals to complete a direct review of an appeal. If you request a hearing or submit new evidence, you can expect the wait time to increase. In these situations, the Board aims to issue a decision within 1.5 to 2 years, but it may take much longer.
Hiring an attorney for VA appeal in California doesn’t make the Board of Veterans’ Appeals process claims faster, but it can help you avoid unnecessary delays by making sure that all of VA’s complex requirements are met.
For example, it’s common for veterans to submit insufficient medical evidence with their disability claims. By performing a thorough analysis and taking the time to gather supporting evidence, we reduce the risk that your appeal will be delayed.
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How Our Disability Lawyers Can Help Win Your VA Appeal
Common reasons for rejection include a lack of medical evidence, missed deadlines, and incomplete forms. Some veterans receive denials due to a lack of nexus, which is a clear link between their military service and their disability. Here’s how our appeal lawyers can help:
- Claim analysis: We have experienced professionals review every line of your original claim to determine why it was denied. Common reasons include missed deadlines, insufficient medical evidence, or the lack of a connection between military service and your disability.
- Evidence review: Our veterans lawyers have the resources to gather missing service records and collect additional evidence from medical experts, strengthening your claim.
- Appeals strategy: Once we analyze your claim and gather additional documentation, we develop an appeals strategy. Because we focus on helping veterans get their service-connected benefits, we have extensive experience filing supplemental claims, requesting reviews from senior claims adjudicators, and appealing directly to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
Find VA Lawyers and Resources Near You
Los angeles
VA Regional Office Los Angeles: Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024
San Diego
San Diego VA Regional Office: 8810 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA 92108
San Jose
San Jose VA Disability Lawyers
San Jose Vet Center:
5855 Silver Creek Valley Place, Third Floor 3A, San Jose, CA 95138
Local Resources for California Veterans
Programs for Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs has several resources in the State of California, such as VA hospitals, outpatient clinics, and vet centers.
VA healthcare facilities exist to meet the physical and mental needs of veterans, while the Veterans Benefits Administration provides financial assistance to eligible veterans and dependents.
The veteran programs and benefits provided by the state of California include:
- Property tax exemptions: Gives eligible veterans a property tax exemption of up to $150,000.
- CalVet home loans: Offers home loans with attractive terms to qualifying veterans.
- College Tuition Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents: Waives tuition and fees for the dependents of eligible veterans at the University of California, California State University, and State of California Community College campuses.
- Access to California veterans homes: Disabled and elderly veterans can benefit from affordable long-term care.
Veterans Organizations
- Fisher House Southern California: Fisher House’s four houses in Southern California provide accommodation to family members whose loved ones are receiving care at local VA and military hospitals.
- Veterans Transition Center of California: VTC aims to help veterans achieve stability after incarceration or homelessness.
- California Association of Veteran Service Agencies: CAVSA is a consortium of six nonprofit agencies that work together to address issues of importance to veterans, such as mental health, housing and employment.
Local Veterans Associations and Clubs
Social clubs and private associations also provide support to veterans living in California. These organizations are in some of California’s largest cities:
Housing Assistance and Support for California Veterans
The VA, in collaboration with local Community Resource and Referral Centers and organizations such as the California Department of Veterans Affairs, continues to expand prevention, rapid re‑housing, and supportive services aimed at helping veterans maintain housing stability.
But despite ongoing efforts, including HUD‑VASH vouchers, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) and local community services, housing insecurity remains a serious problem in California and thousands of veterans across the state experience homelessness.
At Hill & Ponton, we understand the impact of housing instability on veterans’ lives and we prioritize those who need us the most. If you’re a disabled veteran facing hardship due to lack of a stable job or home, contact us to see if we can help you win the compensation you deserve. Our California VA disability appeal lawyers are here for you.