Many Cincinnati veterans and their families have been unfairly denied VA benefits or don’t receive the additional compensation they may be entitled to. Getting the full extent of your benefits can be a tough battle, but one you don’t have to face alone. Hill & Ponton is here to fight for you.
We are VA-accredited attorneys who have successfully guided thousands of veterans across the nation through the complex VA appeals process. We’d be honored to bring our experience and dedication to your case.
Our Legal Services for Cincinnati Veterans
Our experienced attorneys are committed to helping Cincinnati veterans with a range of VA disability matters:
- Appealing and Winning VA Disability: We help veterans secure monthly tax-free payments for disabilities sustained or aggravated during military service. This is the core of what we do. If your VA disability claim has been denied, we’ll help you navigate the appeals process. We understand the common reasons for denial and how to build a strong case to challenge the VA’s decision.
- Increased Ratings: If your service-connected condition has worsened, or if you believe your initial rating was too low, we’ll fight on your behalf for a higher disability rating that increases your compensation.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): We assist surviving spouses, children, and parents of service members or veterans who died from a service-related injury or illness.
- Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): This is an additional benefit for veterans with severe disabilities, such as loss of limb, blindness, or the need for aid and attendance. We can determine if you qualify for SMC and help you win it.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU): If your service-connected disabilities prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, you may be eligible for TDIU, which pays at the 100% disability rate, even if your combined rating is lower.
The VA Appeals Process
If the VA denies your claim, you have the right to appeal – and we’ll be with you every step of the way to make sure you have the best chances of success. The Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) provides three main pathways for review:
- Supplemental Claim Lane: You can submit new and relevant evidence.
- Higher-Level Review Lane: A more experienced VA adjudicator will review the decision based on the existing record.
- Board Appeal Lane: You can appeal directly to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, choosing from direct review, evidence submission, or a hearing with a Veterans Law Judge.
Our Cincinnati lawyers will choose the appeal path that’s best for your specific situation and see the case through, fulfilling all the VA requirements for approval.
What the VA Looks for in an Appeal
- A Current Diagnosed Disability: You must have a current physical or mental condition that affects your health and ability to function.
- An In-Service Event, Injury, or Illness: There must be evidence of an incident, injury, or disease that occurred during your active military service.
- A Nexus: Medical evidence linking your current disability to the in-service event, injury, or illness.
Hill & Ponton will assist you in gathering and presenting the necessary medical records, service records, buddy statements, and expert medical opinions to build the strongest possible appeal.
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Winning VA Disability for Toxic Exposure During Military Service
Many veterans were exposed to hazardous materials during their service that can lead to serious health conditions years or even decades later. Toxic exposures can include burn pits, jet fuel, PFAS, Agent Orange, TCE, asbestos and many more.
If you served in an area with known toxic contamination and developed related health problems, our VA disability lawyers can help you connect your condition to your service. While there may not be specific toxic exposure sites within the city of Cincinnati directly tied to VA claims in the same way as a major base, many Cincinnati veterans served at installations or in deployments where such exposures were common.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, OH is a major Air Force base not far from Cincinnati, with a long history of environmental concerns. The use of firefighting foam containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from the 1970s to 2018 is a known issue at Wright-Patterson AFB. PFAS exposure has been linked to various health problems, including several types of cancer.
A common risk is from asbestos exposure due to construction and renovation activities, putting many military personnel and civilian workers at risk of diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer. Veterans who served on a base where asbestos was used and later developed asbestos-related illnesses may have a basis for a toxic exposure claim.
Hill & Ponton lawyers stay updated on current research and legislation and can help Cincinnati veterans prove their conditions are related to service due to toxic exposure, which is key to winning VA disability compensation.
Why Should You Hire a VA Disability Lawyer?
While you can navigate the VA claims and appeals process on your own or with the help of a Veterans Service Officer (VSO), there are distinct advantages to working with an experienced VA disability attorney, especially for appeals.
- Legal Expertise: Appealing a VA decision involves complex legal arguments and evidence gathering. Attorneys understand the nuances of VA law and how to build a compelling case.
- Resource Intensive: Appeals can require significant resources to obtain medical records, expert opinions, and prepare legal briefs. Disability law firms are equipped to handle this.
- Objective Perspective: A lawyer provides an objective review of your case, identifying strengths and weaknesses that you might overlook.
- Higher Success Rates: While not guaranteed, working with an experienced attorney can significantly increase your chances of a successful appeal. Hill & Ponton focuses its expertise here.
What Is the Success Rate of Cincinnati VA Disability Attorneys?
At Hill & Ponton, we have been assisting veterans from all over the U.S. for over 30 years, with a 96% success rate for the appeals we handle. This reflects our dedication, experience, and thorough approach to each veteran’s case. Our success is built on our commitment to:
- A Veteran-Centric Perspective: Our firm was established by a Vietnam veteran and employs several veterans who know firsthand the sacrifices made by service members and the importance of receiving the benefits you’ve earned. This translates into profound understanding, experience, and compassion for every veteran we serve.
- An Exclusive Focus on Disability : Our practice is dedicated to helping disabled veterans and their families secure the maximum compensation for service-connected conditions. Disability law is all we do.
- Specializing in Appeals and Increases: Many valid claims are often denied or underrated. Hill & Ponton specializes in appealing these decisions and fighting for increased disability ratings. If you’ve received a denial or believe your rating is too low, we are the team to call.
Our attorneys focus on appeals because this is where our specialized knowledge can make the most significant difference for veterans who have already faced a denial. We know that a denied claim is not the end of the road. It’s a call for experienced lawyers to step in.
What Compensation Are You Entitled To?
The VA assigns a disability rating based on the severity of your service-connected condition. This rating, expressed as a percentage from 0% to 100% (in 10% increments), determines the amount of monthly compensation you receive.
A higher disability rating means more financial compensation and can also open doors to other benefits, such as VA healthcare eligibility and vocational rehabilitation.
If you have multiple service-connected disabilities, the VA uses a “whole person theory” to determine a combined disability rating. This is not simple addition, the VA math is more complicated. You can calculate your combined rating and benefits with our VA disability calculator.
Below is the current monthly compensation for a single Cincinnati veteran with no dependents. Rates increase for veterans with a spouse, children, or dependent parents.
- 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
For a personalized estimate of your potential benefits based on your specific rating and dependents, use our VA disability calculator.
Calculate your benefits
Resources for Veterans in Cincinnati and Hamilton County
Beyond legal assistance for your VA disability appeal, the city of Cincinnati, Hamilton County and the state of Ohio offer a variety of resources to support disabled veterans and their families.
Veteran Assistance
Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission (HCVSC): 230 E. Ninth St., Room 1100, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Phone: 513-946-3300
Provides emergency financial assistance, transportation to VA medical appointments, help with VA benefit applications (they have accredited VSOs), and other support services for Hamilton County veterans.
Cincinnati Vet Center: 615 Elsinore Place, Suite 200A, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Phone: 513-763-3500
Provides free readjustment counseling, services for PTSD, military sexual trauma, bereavement, and more.
VA Regional Office (RO) – Cleveland: A.J. Celebrezze Federal Building, 1240 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44199. Keep in mind: While you typically won’t visit the RO in person for claims processing unless specifically directed, all official correspondence regarding your claim will come from this office. It’s crucial to keep them updated with your current address and contact information. Working with an attorney from Hill & Ponton means we handle communications with the RO on your behalf.
VA Healthcare
Cincinnati VA Medical Center: 3200 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220-2213. Phone: 513-861-3100
Provides a wide range of health services, including primary care, specialty care, mental health services, surgical services, and more.
Clermont County VA Clinic: 4600 Beechwood Road, Cincinnati, OH 45244-1809 (Phone: 513-943-3680)
Vine Street VA Clinic: 909 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202-1105 (Phone: 513-977-6800)
Dearborn VA Clinic (Lawrenceburg, IN – serves nearby Ohio veterans): 131 Campus Drive, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025-1387 (Phone: 812-539-2313)
Georgetown VA Clinic: 474 Home Street, Georgetown, OH 45121-1459 (Phone: 937-378-3413)
Hamilton VA Clinic: 1750 South Erie Highway, Hamilton, OH 45011-4118 (Phone: 513-870-9444)
Norwood VA Clinic: 4600 Smith Road, Central Station, Suite A6, Norwood, OH 45212-2784 (Phone: 513-475-6547)
Housing Assistance and Support for Cincinnati Veterans
Cincinnati offers several programs to help homeless veterans or those at risk, including Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), the Cincinnati VA Medical Center’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans program, and emergency financial assistance from the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission that can help with rent or mortgage payments to prevent homelessness.
At Hill & Ponton, we specialize in helping veterans who are at risk of homelessness or unemployment due to their disabilities.
We understand that filing a VA disability appeal can feel like an uphill battle, especially when you’re focused on your health and family. Our Cincinnati disability lawyers are committed to taking the burden off your shoulders, providing expert legal representation, and fighting tirelessly to get you the benefits you rightfully earned. Call us on 1-888-477-2363 today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.