For many veterans in Jackson and across Mississippi, the effects of military service last long after discharge. PTSD, chronic pain and various medical conditions can make daily life difficult, yet navigating the VA disability system can be equally challenging. The process is complex, detailed, and often requires more medical and service evidence than most veterans realize.
That’s where we can help. Veterans’ disability law isn’t just something we handle, it’s our entire focus. Our VA-accredited attorneys have represented thousands of disabled veterans nationwide, including many right here in Jackson and Hinds County, helping them appeal unfair decisions and obtain their rightful benefits.
If your VA claim was denied, your rating feels too low, or you believe you qualify for Individual Unemployability or Special Monthly Compensation, we can fight on your behalf. We know the VA process, the evidence it requires, and how to build a winning case.
With a 96% success rate in the cases we take on, our law firm has built its reputation on one mission: fighting for the veterans who fought for us. If you served our nation and now need assistance securing your VA disability benefits, let us evaluate your case (at no cost) and help you reclaim what you’re owed.
Our Legal Services
- Disability Compensation: Our attorneys help Jackson veterans recover the maximum VA compensation available for both physical and mental health conditions tied to military service. Whether your condition began while serving at home or overseas, or worsened over time, we build a detailed case backed by medical evidence, service history, and expert opinions to prove your right to full benefits.
- VA Disability Appeals: If your claim has been denied or underrated, you don’t have to face the appeals process alone. Our team handles everything, from reviewing your VA file to gathering new medical reports and proving service connection. We know how to ensure your appeal gets the thorough and fair review it deserves.
- Increased Compensation: Health conditions change, and your VA rating should reflect that. If your symptoms have worsened or your daily life has become more limited since the VA’s last decision, we’ll help get t a higher disability rating and submit the up-to-date evidence needed to support your claim for additional benefits.
- Special Monthly Compensation: Some service-connected disabilities call for a higher level of support. Veterans who have lost the use of a limb, need help with daily care, or live with multiple severe conditions may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation, an enhanced payment beyond the standard 100% rate.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability: When your service-connected conditions make it impossible to maintain steady work, you may qualify for TDIU, which pays at the 100% disability rate even if your combined rating is lower.
- DIC and Survivor Benefits: Losing a loved one who served can be devastating, both emotionally and financially. We represent the spouses, children, and parents of Mississippi veterans who passed away in the line of duty or due to service-connected disabilities. Our attorneys assist families in winning survivor benefits, making sure their veteran’s death is recognized and honored.
Disability Ratings and Compensation
The level of financial support you receive from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is determined by your VA disability rating. This rating is a percentage from 10% to 100%, assigned by the VA in increments of 10%, with each step representing a higher level of disability and a larger, tax-free monthly benefit.
If you have multiple service-connected conditions, the VA doesn’t simply add them together. Instead, it uses a combined ratings formula that often results in a total rating slightly lower than expected. This means that even small changes in your percentage can make a real difference, both in your monthly payments and your access to additional benefits.
Here’s the current standard disability compensation for a single 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
Veterans with spouses, dependent children, or dependent parents qualify for additional monthly compensation, and these rates are adjusted each year to match cost-of-living updates. To estimate your total combined rating and compensation, you can use this VA disability calculator.
In addition to federal VA compensation, Mississippi offers state benefits and community programs that support local veterans and their families with tuition assistance, property tax exemptions, employment opportunities, and more.
Work with us to get your Benefits
Proving Toxic Exposure Claims
For decades, service members stationed in and around Jackson, Mississippi played a vital role in national defense, whether through training, engineering, or support operations. Unfortunately, many of these same locations also carry a history of toxic chemical use and contamination, exposing veterans to substances that can cause serious and lifelong health conditions.
Common contaminants include PFAS from firefighting foam, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvents and fuel, and heavy metals like lead and arsenic from waste disposal and munitions handling. The military installations in or near Jackson linked to confirmed or suspected environmental contamination include:
- Thompson Field Air National Guard Base (Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport, Flowood, MS) – The Mississippi Air National Guard’s 172nd Airlift Wing operates out of this base, which has been identified by the Department of Defense for PFAS testing due to historical use of firefighting foams (AFFF). Investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of groundwater and soil contamination in and around the airport and base property.
- Naval Air Station Meridian (Meridian, MS) – Active U.S. Navy aviation training base identified for PFAS contamination linked to historical use of firefighting foam (AFFF). The Navy and EPA have confirmed PFAS detections in groundwater and are monitoring potential off-base impacts.
- Key Field Air National Guard Base (Meridian, MS) – Home to the 186th Air Refueling Wing, Key Field has been investigated for PFAS assessment due to past AFFF use and aircraft maintenance activities.
If you served at or near any of these Mississippi installations (or anywhere else later found to be contaminated) and have since developed a related medical condition, you may qualify for VA disability compensation under current toxic exposure and PACT Act regulations.
Even if your claim was denied before, new VA policies and scientific data may now make you eligible for benefits. Our lawyers proudly serve veterans across Mississippi, ensuring their exposure is recognized and their health conditions are fully compensated.
Meeting VA Requirements
Many veterans face VA claim denials not because they don’t deserve benefits, but because the evidence in their file isn’t complete or clearly connected to their military service. The VA requires precise documentation before approving a claim or assigning the correct rating. To succeed, every VA disability claim must include three essential elements:
- A Current Diagnosis – You need medical documentation from a qualified provider showing you’re currently living with the condition.
- Evidence of an In-Service Event or Illness -This can be an injury, illness, or toxic exposure that occurred while you were on active duty. Military treatment records, deployment logs, or statements from fellow service members can all help.
- A Link Between the Diagnosis and the In-Service Event – A medical expert must explain that your condition is “at least as likely as not” related to your service. Without this link, even strong claims often fail.
Our VA disability lawyers work with medical experts to link your health condition directly to your service, and handle every deadline and appeal step to keep your case on track and protect your rights.
Tell us about your claim
Why Choose Hill & Ponton?
Hill & Ponton was founded by a veteran, and many of our attorneys and staff come from military families. We understand the mindset of those who served, the challenges of transitioning back to civilian life, and the frustration of dealing with VA claim denials. That personal connection drives us to fight hard for veterans in Jackson, Mississippi and across the country.
Unlike general practice firms or overloaded veteran service organizations, our attorneys focus solely on VA disability law. We specialize in appeals and stay up to date on every change in VA regulations, appeals processes, and court rulings that affect veterans’ benefits.
We don’t just refile paperwork, we rebuild your case from the ground up. That includes gathering medical records, obtaining expert opinions, and using proven legal strategies that reflect the full extent of your condition. Our mission is clear: fight for the highest rating and every dollar of compensation you deserve.
We’ve helped thousands of veterans nationwide, including many here in Mississippi, win the benefits they were initially denied. With a 96% success rate on the VA appeals we take, we bring experience, empathy, and relentless advocacy to every case. Reach out to us for a free case evaluation – it’s the first step to getting what you’ve earned and you won’t owe anything unless we win the appeal.
Local Resources for Jackson Veterans
Jackson serves as a central point for veterans across Mississippi, providing essential access to VA health care, housing resources, and disability benefits. Our legal team works with veterans in Jackson, Pearl, Clinton, and neighboring areas, while local VA facilities offer a wide range of services to support the region’s veteran community:
- Jackson VA Regional Office (VARO): Handles disability claims, pension benefits, and other veteran programs. Address: 1600 E. Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Jackson, MS 39216. Phone: 601-364-7171
- Hinds County Veterans Services Office: Provides assistance and advocacy for veterans in Hinds County. Address: 316 South President Street, Jackson, MS 39205. Phone: 601-968-5408
- Jackson Vet Center: Provides readjustment counseling for combat veterans and their families, military sexual trauma counseling, and bereavement counseling. Address: 15 River Bend Place, Suite 15A, Flowood, MS 39232. Phone: 601-936-7939
- G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery VA Medical Center: 1500 East Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Jackson, MS 39216. Offers full primary care, mental health, surgical services, pharmacy, and specialty medical care.
- Dogwood View Parkway VA Clinic: Offers outpatient services and primary care. Address: 6522 Dogwood View Parkway, Suite F, Jackson, MS 39213. Phone: 601-362-4471
Veterans’ Housing Assistance and Support
Local, state, and federal programs offer targeted support to veterans at risk of homelessness in central Mississippi, including transitional housing, rent assistance, and long-term housing options.
- The VA Jackson Homeless Care Coordinator helps veterans access stable housing, job training, health care, and support services to prevent or end homelessness. This program works directly with veterans to navigate local resources and VA benefits.
- Central Mississippi Continuum of Care coordinates housing support across central Mississippi, ensuring that veterans facing housing instability are referred to emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing programs.
- Supportive Services for Veteran Families is active throughout the Jackson area and provides short-term financial assistance for rent, utility payments, moving expenses, and case management for veterans at risk of eviction or homelessness.
At Hill & Ponton, we understand that housing insecurity is often worsened when veterans are unfairly denied the disability benefits they’ve earned. If you believe your VA claim was underrated or wrongfully denied, our experienced VA-accredited attorneys are ready to help, with no upfront fees. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.