Many Hawaiian veterans begin their VA claims with hope, only to be met with confusing decisions or ratings that don’t reflect the reality of what they’re living with. If your claim was denied, or your rating seems too low given the challenges you face, you’re far from alone. The VA system is notoriously complex, and a single missing document, medical detail, or missed deadline can derail your entire case. That’s where we come in.
At Hill & Ponton, we focus solely on veterans’ disability law and specialize in appeals. Our team of VA-accredited attorneys understands how the system works, and more importantly, how to make it work for you. Whether you need to prove service connection or push for a higher rating, we know how to build strong, evidence-backed appeals that get results.
We proudly serve veterans across all islands, from Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island to Maui, Kauaʻi, and Lānaʻi. If you’re tired of fighting the VA alone, let us help. We offer free case evaluations, and we never charge upfront. If we can take your case, we’ll fight to win – and if we can’t take it we’ll still make sure to point you in the right direction.
Our Legal Services for Hawai’i Veterans
- Disability Compensation: We help you obtain the compensation you’re entitled to receive for service-connected physical and mental health conditions. We gather medical records, service documentation, and expert opinions to build a strong, evidence-based case and secure every dollar you’ve earned.
- Appeals: If the VA denied your claim or issued a rating that doesn’t match the true impact of your condition, our lawyers will take charge of the appeals process and argue the case on your behalf to maximize your benefits.
- Rating Increases: If your health has declined since the VA’s original decision, you may be entitled to a higher disability rating and greater monthly benefits.
- DIC and Survivor Benefits: We proudly assist the spouses, children, and parents of Mississippi service members who passed away in the line of duty or from service-connected conditions. Our attorneys help families apply for survivor benefits, ensuring they receive the financial and emotional support they’re entitled to under VA and state programs.
- Special Monthly Compensation: Veterans living with severe or multiple disabilities may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation, an additional payment above the standard 100% disability rate.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability: If your service-connected conditions make it difficult or impossible to maintain full-time employment, you may qualify for TDIU, which pays at the 100% disability rate even if your combined rating is lower. We help prove unemployability through detailed medical, vocational, and service-related evidence, ensuring you receive the full compensation you deserve.
What Compensation and Benefits Are Available to You?
Your VA disability rating is more than just a number: it determines the level of financial and medical support you’re entitled to after serving your country. This rating is assigned by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs based on how seriously your service-connected condition affects your ability to function, whether at work, at home, or in everyday life.
Ratings range from 10% to 100%, increasing in 10% steps. Each level represents greater impairment and a higher monthly, tax-free payment. If you’re living with more than one service-connected condition, the VA uses a combined ratings formula, which usually results in a lower total than simply adding the numbers. That’s why precision in your claim is critical. Even a small jump in your rating can make a big difference in your monthly compensation.
Here are the current VA monthly compensation rates for a single Hawai’i veteran with no 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
The VA updates these figures each year to reflect cost-of-living adjustments and veterans with spouses, children, or dependent parents also qualify for additional amounts. You can calculate your compensation with our VA Disability Calculator.
Hawai’i State Benefits for Disabled Veterans
In addition to federal VA compensation, veterans living in Hawaiʻi may be eligible for state-level benefits, including real estate tax exemptions, vehicle registration discounts, education benefits and hiring preferences.
If you’re currently unable to access some of these opportunities because your rating is too low, our lawyers can help you challenge the VA decision and fight for every benefit you deserve, both at the federal and state level.
Work with us to get your benefits
When Should You Hire a VA Disability Lawyer?
Many Hawaiʻi veterans start their VA disability claim on their own – and that’s often the right place to begin. But if your claim is denied, or the VA assigns a rating that doesn’t match the true impact of your condition, that’s when experienced legal help can make all the difference.
The VA appeals process is not only complicated, but also filled with deadlines, required forms, and evolving policies. One small oversight (missing evidence, a late form, or unclear documentation) can delay your case for months or even years. That’s where we come in.
At Hill & Ponton, VA disability law isn’t just one of many things we do, it’s all we do. Our attorneys understand the VA system inside and out, and we’ve helped thousands of veterans navigate the appeals process successfully. We will gather your medical records, service history, and any expert opinions that support your appeal, then build a detailed legal case that clearly shows how your service-connected conditions affect your daily life, health, and ability to work.
Your VA Appeal Options
- Supplemental Claim: If there is new and relevant evidence (like updated medical evaluations or records previously missing from your file), this option allows the VA to reconsider your case.
- Higher-Level Review: If you believe the VA made a mistake in its decision, a more experienced reviewer will reassess your case. This can be one of the fastest ways to correct clear VA errors.
- Board of Veterans’ Appeals Review: This is the most in-depth level of appeal, and it can take longer. You can request a direct review, submit new evidence, or present your case to a Veterans Law Judge in a hearing.
If the VA isn’t recognizing the full impact of your condition, we want to hear your story. We never charge upfront fees, and we only get paid if we win your appeal. Reach out for a free case evaluation and let us help you fight for the benefits you’ve earned.
What You Need to Win Your VA Appeal
Far too often, veterans across Hawaiʻi are denied disability benefits because their claim is missing the right kind of proof. The VA has a very specific idea of what counts as evidence. If your file doesn’t check all the boxes, you may be left waiting or denied altogether. To get your VA disability claim approved, your case needs to be built on three essential pieces:
- Current Diagnosis: You need recent documentation from a licensed doctor confirming you’re currently dealing with the condition you’re claiming, not just past records.
- Proof Something Happened: Whether you were injured, exposed to toxins at Schofield, or developed symptoms after an overseas deployment, you need to show it happened while you were in uniform. This could be medical records, unit logs, or even statements from people who served with you.
- Nexus: The VA needs a medical opinion that clearly connects your condition to your time in service – a “nexus” statement that says the disability is at least as likely as not tied to your military experience. This is where most claims fall short.
We work closely with qualified medical experts who understand what the VA is looking for. We don’t just fill out forms, we fix the gaps in your claim and create evidence-backed legal arguments that give you the best chance at approval.
Tell us about your case
VA Disability for Toxic Exposure
Hawaiʻi’s strategic military importance has made it a central hub for U.S. defense operations throughout the Pacific for over a century. With installations spanning Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Molokaʻi, thousands of service members have been stationed across the state. Unfortunately, many of these military bases and support facilities have a long history of environmental contamination, potentially exposing veterans to toxins that are now linked to chronic and sometimes deadly health conditions. Several sites across the Hawaiian Islands have been investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency, the State of Hawaiʻi and the Department of Defense:
- Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (Oʻahu): One of the most prominent sites for toxic exposure in the Pacific. The Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility has been the center of major fuel leak incidents, with jet fuel contaminating groundwater. PFAS and petroleum-related contamination have been confirmed.
- Schofield Barracks (Oʻahu): Environmental investigations have detected pesticide residues, petroleum hydrocarbons, and other contaminants in groundwater. PFAS testing has also been initiated due to firefighting training.
- Wheeler Army Airfield (Oʻahu): Historical aircraft maintenance and fueling operations have prompted cleanup efforts related to VOCs and PFAS contamination.
- Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi – Kāneʻohe Bay (Oʻahu): Known for PFAS concerns due to use of AFFF near runways and maintenance facilities. Groundwater and soil sampling continue.
- Pōhakuloa Training Area (Hawaiʻi Island): Located between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, this large Army training ground has been associated with exposure to munitions residue, lead, and potentially depleted uranium from past weapons testing. PFAS testing is underway.
- Hilo Harbor and Keaukaha Area (Hawaiʻi Island): Former National Guard and industrial sites near the harbor have a history of fuel handling and solvent use. Environmental testing has documented petroleum contamination and PFAS risks.
- Kawaihae Military Reservation (Hawaiʻi Island): This west-side training site has been included in assessments for petroleum, solvent, and heavy metal contamination.
If you served at or near any of these locations, or any other military site with the toxic exposure within the U.S., and you’ve since developed related health conditions, you may qualify for VA disability compensation.
At Hill & Ponton, we proudly assist veterans from every island, from Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi (Big Island), Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi, in seeking recognition for their exposure and the full compensation they deserve. Even if your previous claim was denied, updated VA policies, new scientific findings, and expanded eligibility criteria may now open the door to benefits.
Legal Resources and Lawyers Near You
Honolulu
Honolulu VA Regional Office (VARO): Handles VA disability compensation, pensions, education benefits, and more. Address: 459 Patterson Road, E-Wing, Room 2A100, Honolulu, HI 96819 | Phone: 800-827-1000
Hilo
VA Regional Benefit Satellite Office – Hilo (Hilo Federal Building): Provides in-person support with claims and benefits applications for veterans on the east side of Hawaiʻi Island. Address: 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Room 327, Hilo, HI 96720
Hawai’i VA Facilities Providing Veteran Assistance
Hawaiʻi veterans have access to a wide network of VA healthcare and benefits services across all major islands. From full medical centers to outpatient clinics and Vet Centers, the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System ensures that disabled veterans throughout the state receive the care and support they’ve earned.
Vet centers
- Hilo Vet Center: 70 Lanihuli Street, Suite 102, Hilo, HI 96720 | Phone: 808-969-3833
- Honolulu Vet Center: 1680 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite F-3, Honolulu, HI 96814 | Phone: 808-973-8387
- Kailua-Kona Vet Center: 73-4976 Kamanu Street, Suite 207, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 | Phone: 808-329-0574
- West Oʻahu Vet Center: 91-1051 Franklin D. Roosevelt Avenue, Kapolei, HI 96707 | Phone: 808-674-2414
- Lihue Vet Center: 4485 Pahee Street, Suite 101, Lihue, HI 96766 | Phone: 808-246-1163
- Maui Vet Center: Readjustment and family counseling services for veterans across Maui County. Also offers limited in-person support to Maui veterans filing claims and seeking benefits information. Address: 157 Maa Street, Kahului, HI 96732 | Phone: 808-871-0034
VA Medical Centers and Clinics
- Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center (VAMC): 459 Patterson Road, Honolulu, HI 96819 | Phone: 808-433-0600
- Hilo VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC): Provides primary care, mental health services, lab work, and telehealth support to veterans in East Hawaiʻi. Address: 45 Mohouli Street, Hilo, HI 96720 | Phone: 808-933-0777
- Kailua-Kona VA Clinic: Provides outpatient and telehealth services for West Hawaiʻi veterans. Address: 73-5618 Maiau Street, Suite C200, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 | Phone: 808-329-0774
- Daniel Kahikina Akaka VA Clinic: Also hosts a satellite office of the VA Regional Office, offering claims assistance and benefits support to veterans in West Oʻahu. Address: 91-1051 Franklin D. Roosevelt Avenue, Kapolei, HI 96707 | Phone: 800-214-1306
- Maui VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC): Offers primary care, lab work, and telehealth services in the Maui County. Address: 203 Hoohana Street, Suite 303, Kahului, HI 96732 | Phone: 808-871-2454
- Lihue VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC): Local outpatient services, routine care, and referrals. Address: 4485 Pahee Street, Suite 150, Lihue, HI 96766 | Phone: 808-246-0497
- Molokaʻi VA Clinic (CBOC site): Offers limited VA outpatient services through traveling VA staff. Address: 604 Mauna Loa Highway, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 | Phone: 808-553-3191
Housing Assistance and Support for Veterans
In September 2025, the VA announced $8.85 million in grants to organizations in Hawaii and Guam to help veterans who are homeless or at risk. Across Hawaiʻi, disabled veterans facing housing instability can access coordinated federal, state, and nonprofit support systems. These include transitional housing programs, rental assistance, and long-term housing placement with case management.
The VA Pacific Islands Health Care System offers homeless care coordination throughout the islands, connecting veterans to housing, job training, health care, and other essential support services. It serves veterans in urban centers like Honolulu as well as rural areas across the neighbor islands.
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) programs operate statewide through providers like Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, U.S.VETS, and HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, assisting veterans with short-term financial aid and benefits coordination. Shelters and transitional housing sites on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, and Kauaʻi offer beds and wraparound services for veterans experiencing homelessness or at high risk of eviction.
At Hill & Ponton, we recognize that many veterans struggling with housing are also battling an unfair VA claim denial or a low disability rating. If you find yourself facing housing insecurity or unemployment, let our VA-accredited attorneys help, with no upfront cost. Contact us today for a free case review.