If you’re one of the many disabled veterans who’ve had their VA claim denied or underrated, you’re not alone. Even with medical evidence and honorable service, the VA often denies valid disability claims or assigns ratings far lower than deserved. But you don’t have to leave your future in the VA’s hands.
At Hill & Ponton, we combine our expertise in disability law with a commitment to treat every veteran with respect, empathy, and professionalism. We’ll review your case at no cost and help you understand your rights. If we take your case, you won’t pay unless we win.
We know that every veteran’s disability claim is unique and that your service history, medical records, symptoms, even conditions that develop years later can all play a role. Our lawyers can help you build the strongest appeal for your specific case.
Service Connection Isn’t Always Obvious – That’s Why We’re Here
When evaluating a claim or appeal, the VA looks for several key requirements:
- A Medical Diagnosis: You must have a current medical diagnosis of a disability.
- In-Service Injury, Incident or Illness: Evidence that an event happened during your military service that could have caused or aggravated your condition.
- Nexus: A medical professional must provide an opinion linking your current disability to the in-service event. This is usually the most difficult element (and where legal representation can make the biggest difference).
At Hill & Ponton, we help veterans like you prove the connection when the VA claims there’s no link to your service, or in complicated cases of toxic exposure or secondary conditions.
Our experienced disability lawyers know how to gather the evidence to meet VA requirements, work with medical experts, and build the strongest case possible for approval.
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Our Legal Services for Veterans In the Fayetteville Area
- Disability Compensation: Including claims involving physical and mental disabilities and conditions related to toxic exposure at Fort Bragg or other military bases.
- VA Appeals: If your claim was denied, we choose the best legal path and handle the appeals process on your behalf.
- Disability Rating Increases: If you were underrated by the VA, or your service-connected condition got worse, our lawyers will pursue a higher rating to increase your monthly benefits.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): Surviving spouses, children, or parents of a deceased veteran may qualify for DIC and other death benefits. Our lawyers can assist you in obtaining them.
- Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): We help disabled veterans get additional financial support in the form of special monthly compensation if their service-connected conditions are severe enough to require extra care (such as Aid and Assistance).
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU): If your service-connected disabilities prevent you from keeping a job, you may qualify for TDIU and receive monthly disability payments at the 100% rate even if the combined rating is lower.
When Should You Get a VA Disability Lawyer?
Many veterans start their VA claims with the help of a Veterans Service Organization (VSO). These groups provide valuable assistance, especially when filing your initial application. But if the VA denies your claim, or assigns a disability rating that doesn’t match the severity of your condition, it may be time to work with a VA-accredited attorney who can help you appeal and fight for the benefits you earned.
Why Work with Hill & Ponton?
- You’ll Get a Lawyer Who Knows the VA System: VA disability law is complex and constantly changing. Our attorneys stay up to date on the latest legal developments to ensure your appeal is built on solid ground.
- The Right Appeal Path: The VA offers multiple appeal options (Supplemental Claims, Higher-Level Reviews, and Board of Veterans’ Appeals). We’ll guide you through the path that best fits your situation, while helping you avoid missed deadlines or procedural mistakes.
- Full Evidence Development for Your Case: We build your appeal step by step, from requesting your claims file to locating missing records and coordinating nexus letters from medical professionals.
- We Maximize Your Benefits: You may be entitled to more than you think. We will pursue increased disability ratings, Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) or Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), depending on what you qualify for.
What Is the Success Rate of VA Disability Attorneys?
Veterans who appeal with legal help have much higher success rates than those who file alone. At Hill & Ponton, we’re proud of our 96% success rate in the cases we take nationwide. Don’t take our word for it – read the stories of those we’ve already helped.
Proving Toxic Exposure Claims
Located in Cumberland County, right next to Fayetteville, Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty) is a known site of environmental contamination. Veterans stationed here may have been exposed to dangerous chemicals, including PFAS (“forever chemicals”) from firefighting foam, linked to kidney/testicular cancer, thyroid issues, and infertility, and TCE (trichloroethylene) in groundwater, linked to cancer, heart defects, and immune disorders.
The VA hasn’t established presumptive conditions for Fort Bragg, so you will need to verify exposure and establish service connection in order to receive disability compensation. Because these cases are complex and lack automatic presumptive status, working with an experienced VA appeal lawyer can significantly increase your chance of success.
North Carolina is also home to Camp Lejeune, whose contaminated water was found to contain over 70 toxic substances, including TCE, PCE, benzene, and vinyl chloride, at levels thousands of times above safety standards. Fayetteville veterans who spent at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 can benefit from a VA presumption – the VA automatically presumes that the exposure to toxic chemicals caused certain severe health conditions, so it’s easier to qualify for compensation.
If you are suffering from a medical condition related to contamination at Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune or any other military base, you may be entitled to significant VA benefits. Even if the VA previously denied your claim, our lawyers may be able to connect your service history to your diagnosis and obtain the evidence needed to support your claim.
Ratings and Compensation
The VA assigns ratings from 10% to 100% (in 10% increments), based on how severely your condition impacts your daily life. This rating determines your monthly, tax-free disability payment.
When you have multiple service-connected conditions, the VA uses a weighted formula (not simple addition) to determine your combined disability rating.
Here’s what a single Fayetteville veteran with no dependents currently receives in monthly compensation:
- 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
Veterans with spouses, children, or dependent parents receive increased compensation. You can estimate your full monthly payment using our VA disability calculator.
In addition to federal VA benefits, veterans living in North Carolina may also qualify for state-level programs like property tax exemptions and tuition assistance for dependents.
Work with us to get your Benefits
VA Resources for Veterans
Cumberland County has one of the highest numbers of veterans in North Carolina, over 60,000, and a third of them are living with a disability. These numbers reflect a community that deeply needs and deserves strong support. While we can offer legal representation to veterans in Fayetteville (and nearby towns like Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Raeford, Lumberton and Laurinburg), multiple other resources are available from VA facilities and local organizations.
Veterans Assistance
Cumberland County Veterans Services Office: 301 E Russell Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301; Phone: (910) 677‑2970; Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Fri 8:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Fayetteville Veterans Service Center (DMVA): 225 Green Street, Suite 903, Fayetteville, NC 28301; Phone: (919) 664‑1130; Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Fri closed after 12 p.m.; offers state-level support (compensation, pension, education, burials)
Robeson County Veterans Service Office: 550 N Chestnut Street, Lumberton, NC 28358; Phone: (910) 671‑3071; Hours: Mon–Fri 8:15 a.m.–5:15 p.m.; helps veterans with VA claims, pensions, insurance, and burial benefits.
Scotland County Veterans Service Office: 507 West Covington Street, Laurinburg, NC 28352; Phone: (910) 277‑2597; Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Fayetteville Vet Center: 2301 Robeson Street, Suite 103, Fayetteville, NC 28305; Phone: (910) 488‑6252; Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; provides free and confidential readjustment counseling (PTSD, MST, substance use, family counseling)
Hamlet Satellite (Fayetteville Vet Center): Hamlet Library, 302 Main Street, Hamlet, NC 28345; Phone: (910) 488‑6252
Pembroke Satellite #1 (Fayetteville Vet Center): Hope Alive, 465 Lonnie Farm Road, Pembroke, NC 28372; Phone: (910) 488‑6252
Pembroke Satellite #2 (Fayetteville Vet Center): Lumbee Regional Development Association, 636 Prospect Road, Pembroke, NC 28372; Phone: (910) 488‑6252
VA Medical centers & Clinics
Fayetteville VA Medical Center: 2300 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301; 24/7 full-service VA hospital providing inpatient, specialty, and emergency care to veterans across Cumberland County.
Cumberland County VA Clinic: 7300 South Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28304; Hours: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; offers primary care, cardiology, mental health, mobility assistance, and transportation support.
Raeford Road VA Clinic: 4101 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28304; urgent care/walk-in clinic offering non-emergency and preventive services; Hours: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Robeson County VA Clinic: 139 Three Hunts Drive, Pembroke, NC 28372; Offers standard VA healthcare services; Hours generally Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Hope Mills Medical Home (Womack Army Medical Center clinic): Off-post primary care clinic for service members and veterans; Address: 3351 SouthPeak Drive, Hope Mills, NC; Phone: (910) 908‑4673; Offers comprehensive primary care and family services.
Brunswick County CBOC: 18 Doctors Circle, Units 2 & 3, Supply, NC 28462; Phone: (910) 754‑6141
Hamlet CBOC: 100 Jefferson Street, Hamlet, NC 28345; Phone: (910) 582‑3536
Housing Assistance and Support for Veterans in the Fayetteville Area
The Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System made major strides in 2024 and 2025 through its HUD-VASH program, which combines HUD Housing Choice Vouchers with VA case management and supportive services to combat veteran homelessness. In 2024, the program housed 553 veterans across Cumberland, Duplin, and Onslow counties.
The program emphasizes a Housing First approach, prioritizing stable housing for high-need veterans while also connecting them to physical health, mental health, and social services. As of 2025 the Fayetteville VA is ranked #1 in its Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN), with a 93.84% housing success rate.
Veterans can enter the program through a VA provider referral, by visiting the Walk-In Center at Building 50, 2300 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301, or by calling the National Homeless Hotline at 1-877-4AID VET (877-424-3838), available 24/7.
At Hill & Ponton, we specialize in legal representation for veterans at risk of homelessness or unemployment. If you were denied or underrated by the VA, contact our disability lawyers today for a free case evaluation.