Many of the almost 400,000 veterans in Colorado may be missing out on disability benefits or not taking full advantage of the valuable resources available to them. The process of filing for and appealing a VA disability claim can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone.
As VA disability lawyers specialized in appeals, we have successfully represented hundreds of disabled veterans in Colorado and thousands more nationwide, ensuring they receive the VA benefits they are rightfully entitled to. We would be honored to do the same for you.
Hill & Ponton is dedicated exclusively to assisting disabled veterans and their families. You pay no attorney fees unless we win your appeal and get you the benefits you deserve.
Our Legal Services for Colorado Veterans
- Disability Compensation: We can help you obtain tax-free monthly benefits for injuries or diseases that were caused by or worsened during your military service.
- Appeals: If your initial claim has been denied, we can help you navigate the complex appeals process.
- Increases: If your service-connected condition has worsened, we can help you file for an increase in your disability rating.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): We can assist surviving spouses, children, and parents of service members who died in the line of duty or from a service-related injury or illness.
- Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): This is an additional tax-free benefit for veterans who, as a result of their military service, have specific disabilities such as the loss of use of a hand or leg.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU): If your service-connected disabilities prevent you from being able to work, we can help you get benefits at the 100% disability rate, even if your combined disability rating is less than 100%.
Disability Ratings and Compensation
A disability rating is a percentage assigned by the VA that represents the severity of your service-connected condition. This rating determines the amount of monthly disability compensation you will receive. The ratings are calculated in 10% increments from 0% to 100%.
To see how your combined disability rating corresponds to a monthly payment amount, you can use our VA disability calculator.
Here’s how much an unmarried Colorado veteran with no dependents currently earns per month based on their disability rating:
- 10%: $180.42
- 20%: $356.66
- 30%: $552.47
- 40%: $795.84
- 50%: $1,132.90
- 60%: $1,435.02
- 70%: $1,808.45
- 80%: $2,102.15
- 90%: $2,362.30
- 100%: $3,938.58
Colorado State Benefits for Disabled Veterans
The state of Colorado offers disabled veterans a range of benefits, including financial and housing assistance, veteran hiring preference, transportation benefits, and more.
Work with us to get your benefits
When Should You Hire a VA Disability Lawyer?
While you can file a claim on your own or with the help of a Veterans Service Organization (VSO), there are several advantages to working with a VA disability lawyer, especially for an appeal. The laws and regulations surrounding VA disability claims are complex and constantly changing. An experienced attorney can help you navigate these complexities and build the strongest possible case.
If you were denied or underrated by the VA, expert legal representation can make a big difference in the outcome of your appeal. Our Colorado VA appeal lawyers can guide you through the process and ensure you receive the benefits you deserve.
We are selective in the cases we accept to ensure we can dedicate the necessary resources to each one. We are proud of our track record (96% success rate) in helping veterans in Colorado and across the country. You can read some of our clients’ stories here to learn more about the difference our lawyers made in their lives.
Winning Your Appeal
The Department of Veterans Affairs looks for the following when evaluating a claim:
- A current diagnosis of a disability
- An in-service event, injury, or illness
- A medical nexus connecting the current disability to the in-service event
The VA denies a significant number of disability claims for various reasons. Often, it’s due to a lack of evidence or a missing nexus letter from a medical professional. Our VA disability attorneys can help you establish this vital connection and gather the necessary evidence to build a winning appeal.
Get a free case evaluationVA Disability for Toxic Exposure
Many Colorado veterans developed serious health issues years after exposure to hazardous materials during their service, both overseas and at home. Colorado itself is home to several military installations (active and decommissioned) with a documented history of environmental contamination and toxic exposure risks, including:
- Buckley Space Force Base (Aurora, CO): PFAS contamination reaching 205,000 ppt, affecting groundwater and raising concerns for surrounding areas.
- Fort Carson (Colorado Springs, CO): PFAS levels measured at 156,000 ppt due to extensive use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in training exercises.
- Denver Federal Center (Lakewood, CO): Historical disposal of hazardous chemicals, including chlorinated solvents, has led to significant soil and groundwater contamination; remediation efforts are ongoing.
- Lowry Air Force Base (Denver, CO): A major employer and economic staple in the area until its closure in 1994; PFAS contamination from firefighting foam use has been identified, with concerns over groundwater pollution.
- Peterson Space Force Base (Colorado Springs, CO): PFAS levels found at 15,000 ppt, with contamination affecting off-base drinking water supplies.
- Air Force Plant Peter J. Kieweit and Sons (Jefferson County, CO): A U.S. Air Force missile assembly and testing facility operating from 1957 to 2001; designated a Superfund site in 1989 due to extensive contamination from its operations.
- Pueblo Chemical Depot (Pueblo County, CO): Former storage site for mustard gas munitions; chemical weapons destruction completed in 2023, but environmental monitoring continues.
- Rocky Mountain Arsenal (Commerce City, CO): Once a chemical weapons manufacturing center, the site is heavily contaminated with pesticides, solvents, and chemical warfare agents; now a Superfund site undergoing long-term remediation.
- Rocky Flats Plant (Jefferson County, CO): Former nuclear weapons production facility contaminated with plutonium and other radioactive materials; extensive cleanup completed, but certain areas remain restricted.
- Schriever Space Force Base (Colorado Springs, CO): Recorded PFAS levels up to 870,000 ppt from firefighting foam use, posing significant health risks to personnel and nearby communities.
Regardless of where you served, if you believe your health condition is linked to toxic exposure during your service, we may be able to assist you in proving your case.
Legal Resources and Lawyers Near You
Denver VA Regional Benefit Office: This office assists with VA benefits such as disability compensation, education benefits, and home loans. Address: 155 Van Gordon Street, Lakewood, CO 80228. Phone: 800-827-1000
Colorado VA Facilities Providing Veteran Assistance
Vet Centers
Vet Centers offer confidential help for veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. They provide services such as counseling for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and military sexual trauma (MST).
- Boulder Vet Center: 4940 Pearl East Circle, Suite 100, Boulder, CO 80301, 303-440-7306
- Colorado Springs Vet Center: 3920 N. Union Blvd. Suite 310, Colorado Springs, CO 80907, 719-471-9992
- Denver Vet Center: 7465 East First Ave Suite B, Denver, CO 80230, 303-326-0645
- Fort Collins Vet Center: 702 W Drake Builing C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, 970-221-5176
- Grand Junction Vet Center: 561 25 Road Suite 101, Grand Junction, CO 81505, 970-245-4156
- Pueblo Vet Center: 1515 Fortino Blvd., Suite 130, Pueblo, CO 81008, 719-583-4058
- RCS Continental District 4 District Office: 789 Sherman Street, Suite 570, Denver, CO 80203, 303-577-5205 Or 303-577-5207
VA Medical centers and Clinics
- Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center (VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System): 1700 N Wheeling ST, Aurora, CO 80045, 303-399-8020
- VA Western Colorado Health Care System: 2121 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501, 970-242-0731
- Community Resource & Referral Center (CRRC) – York Street VA Clinic: 3836 York Street, Denver, CO 80205-3540, 303-294-5600
Housing Assistance and Support for Veterans in the State of Colorado
The Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs provides information on state and federal benefits for veterans, including resources for housing assistance. There are also several non-profit organizations that work to prevent and end homelessness among veterans in Colorado.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there were over 1,000 homeless veterans in Colorado in 2023. If you are a veteran experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness, please contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838).
Hill & Ponton focuses on legal assistance for veterans who struggle to find housing or keep a job. If you’re facing hardship and have been denied or underrated by the VA, get a free evaluation here. Our Colorado VA appeal lawyers don’t charge anything upfront and only get paid if you get paid.