You bravely served our country, but now you’re struggling to get what you’re owed for the cost your service took on your health. As you’re facing these challenges, it’s our turn to fight for you.

Hill & Ponton’s VA-accredited attorneys have successfully handled VA disability appeals for many veterans in Columbus, Ohio and nationwide. We would be honored to do the same for you.

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Our experienced attorneys are dedicated to helping Columbus veterans with a range of VA disability matters:

  • Appealing Denied Claims: We assist veterans in obtaining tax-free monthly benefits for disabilities, diseases, or injuries incurred or aggravated during active military service. If your VA disability claim has been denied, we can help you understand the reasons for the denial and build a strong appeal. 
  • Increased Ratings and Compensation: If your service-connected condition has worsened, or if you believe your initial rating was too low, we can help you file for an increased rating to ensure your compensation accurately reflects your current level of disability.
  • Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): We support surviving spouses, children, and parents of service members or veterans who died from a service-related injury or disease. 
  • Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): This additional benefit is for veterans with specific needs or circumstances, such as the loss of use of limbs or senses, or those who are housebound or require aid and attendance
  • 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. 

We Win Appeals for Columbus Veterans

Many veterans feel discouraged when their VA disability claim is denied. Often, denials are due to insufficient medical evidence, a missing “nexus” (the link between your condition and your military service), or administrative errors. Understanding what the VA is looking for is crucial:

  1. A Current Diagnosed Disability: You must have a current physical or mental condition that affects your health and ability to function.
  2. An In-Service Event, Injury, or Illness: There must be evidence that something specific happened during your military service (e.g., an injury, exposure to toxins, a traumatic event) that could have caused or aggravated your current disability.
  3. The Nexus: A direct connection between the diagnosed disability and the injury, disease, or event that occurred during your military service, established through a medical opinion from a qualified professional and supported by medical evidence. 

Appealing a VA claim can be a daunting process, especially when you’re also managing your health and family. Hill & Ponton understands these challenges and is here to guide you, ensuring your appeal is as strong as possible.

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We Help Prove Toxic Exposure Claims

A crucial part of many VA claims, especially for appeals, is establishing a clear medical nexus. This is particularly relevant for conditions related to toxic exposures during military service. Veterans from any era, including those who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, or post-9/11 conflicts, may have been exposed to harmful substances, including:

  • Agent Orange
  • PFAS
  • VOCs
  • Air pollutants from burn pits, particulate matter, etc.
  • Occupational hazards (e.g., asbestos, lead)

Hill & Ponton has extensive experience with claims related to various toxic exposures. Many veterans in the Columbus area may have served in locations or roles that exposed them to such hazards, either in overseas deployments, or at military installations within the U.S.

Several military bases in Ohio are known to be contaminated. PFAS (the “forever chemicals” linked to various types of cancer) were found at Air Force Plant 85 in Columbus, while the Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base was reported in 2025 to have had its groundwater contaminated with trichloroethylene.

If you served at a base with toxic exposure and developed related health conditions, Hill & Ponton can help prove the service connection.

Let Us Fight On Your Behalf and Secure Your Benefits

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Why Should You Hire a VA Disability Lawyer?

While you can file an initial VA disability claim on your own or with the help of a Veterans Service Officer (VSO), hiring an experienced VA disability lawyer to handle your appeal will give you the best chances of winning the case. Here’s what our Columbus lawyers can provide:

  • Navigating Complexity – The VA appeals process is intricate, with strict deadlines and specific evidentiary requirements. An attorney specializing in VA law understands these complexities.
  • Developing Evidence – Attorneys can be crucial in identifying and gathering the necessary medical and service records, and in obtaining strong medical nexus opinions.
  • Legal Arguments – Lawyers can formulate persuasive legal arguments, citing relevant laws, regulations, and case precedents to support your appeal.
  • Staying Current – VA laws and regulations change. Hill & Ponton stays updated on these changes, such as those introduced by the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).

If your claim has been denied or you believe your rating is too low, our team serving Columbus veterans is ready to provide experienced legal representation.

What Is the Success Rate of Our Columbus VA Disability Attorneys?

At Hill & Ponton, we are proud of our track record. Our firm has a 96% success rate for the appeals we handle. This reflects our commitment to thoroughly preparing each case and advocating vigorously for our clients in Columbus, Ohio and nationwide.

We focus on taking cases where we believe we can make a difference, whether it’s a grant of service connection, an increased rating, or an earlier effective date. Read our clients’ stories here to find out more about the impact we’ve had in veterans’ lives.

What Compensation Are You Entitled To?

A VA disability rating is a percentage (from 0% to 100%, in 10% increments) assigned to a service-connected disability based on its severity. This rating determines the amount of monthly disability compensation a veteran receives.

Higher ratings mean higher monthly payments. It can also affect eligibility for other VA benefits, such as healthcare enrollment priority. You can calculate your compensation using our VA disability calculator.

Below are the disability rates for a single Columbus veteran with no dependents. Compensation will vary for veterans with 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
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Resources for Columbus Veterans

Columbus and the state of Ohio offer a wide range of resources to support the city’s population of over 60,000 military veterans.

Veteran Assistance

Ohio Department of Veterans Services: Assistance with VA claims, Military Injury Relief Fund, Ohio War Orphans Scholarship, burial benefits, and liaison services with the Cleveland VA Regional Office. Address: 77 S. High St., 7th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215. Phone: 614-644-0898

VA Regional Office: Veterans in Columbus and throughout Ohio have their disability claims processed by the Cleveland VA Regional Office. Address: A.J. Celebrezze Federal Building, 1240 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44199. Phone: 800-827-1000

Columbus Vet Center: Provides confidential counseling for combat veterans and those who experienced military sexual trauma, bereavement, and family counseling. Address: 855 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH 43214. Phone: 614-257-5550

VA Healthcare

Chalmers P. Wylie Veterans Outpatient Clinic: 420 North James Road, Columbus, OH 43219-1834. Phone: 614-257-5200

Columbus VA Clinic (Airport Drive): 2720 Airport Drive, Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43219-2219. Phone: 614-388-7650

Grove City VA Clinic: 5775 North Meadows Drive, Grove City, OH 43123. Phone: 614-257-5800

Newark VA Clinic (Daniel L. Kinnard VA Clinic): 1855 West Main Street, Newark, OH 43055. Phone: 740-788-8329

Marion VA Clinic: 1203 Delaware Avenue, Suite 2, Marion, OH 43302. Phone: 740-223-8089

Zanesville VA Clinic: 2800 Maple Avenue, Zanesville, OH 43701. Phone: 740-453-7725

Housing Assistance and Support for Columbus Veterans

The January 2025 Point-in-Time Count for Franklin County identified 97 veterans experiencing homelessness (a 7% increase from January 2024). Local and national programs are available to assist Columbus veterans facing housing insecurity or homelessness.

The VA provides several programs, including Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), HUD-VASH (a collaborative program between HUD and VA), and grants for community agencies that provide services to homeless veterans. Both the Chalmers P. Wylie VA Clinic and the Columbus Vet Center offer referrals.

At Hill & Ponton, we specialize in legal assistance for veterans who are at risk of homelessness or unemployment due to their disabilities. If you’re a disabled veteran who’s been denied or underrated by the VA, contact our Columbus VA lawyers today for a free case evaluation.

VA Disability Attorneys and professionals dedicated to championing Columbus veterans’ benefits.

Let Us Fight For Your Benefits

Need help appealing a VA decision? Contact our Columbus lawyers for a free evaluation of your claim.