Louisville has a long and distinguished military tradition, with thousands of veterans calling the city and its surrounding communities home. Yet despite that service, many disabled veterans in Louisville still find themselves facing VA denials or ratings that don’t come close to reflecting the true severity of their conditions. When the VA gets it wrong, the consequences are real: lost income, delayed medical care, and years of unnecessary stress.
At Hill & Ponton, we’ve made it our mission to fight for disabled veterans and ensure their service is honored through the benefits they’ve earned. We focus entirely on VA disability law because veterans deserve a legal team that understands every nuance of the VA claims and appeals process.
Our VA-accredited disability attorneys have successfully represented thousands of veterans across the country, and we are proud to help Louisville’s veteran community challenge unfair decisions and pursue the full compensation they deserve. Contact us to discuss your case: there’s no cost to get started and you don’t pay anything unless we win your appeal.
Our Legal Services
- Disability Compensation: We help veterans in Louisville and Jefferson County secure the maximum monthly, tax-free disability compensation available for every service-connected condition. If the VA previously denied your claim or assigned a rating that doesn’t accurately reflect the severity of your disability, we push to correct the error and pursue any back pay you should have received.
- VA Disability Appeals: If your claim was rejected, or if your assigned rating is far too low, we step in as your legal advocates and fight on your behalf. Whether your case requires a Supplemental Claim, a Higher-Level Review, or appearing before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, we can file your appeal and handle the entire process.
- Increased Compensation: Many service-connected disabilities worsen over time. If your condition has deteriorated since your last evaluation (physically, mentally or both), you may qualify for a higher disability rating. We manage all documentation, independent medical opinions, and functional evidence required to demonstrate the decline in your health and ensure the VA recognizes the full extent of your limitations.
- Special Monthly Compensation: Veterans with the most serious service-connected impairments (such as loss of use of limbs, severe vision problems, the need for help with daily living, or combinations of major disabilities) may be eligible for additional compensation going beyond standard VA disability payments.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability: If your service-connected conditions prevent you from maintaining full-time employment, you may be entitled to TDIU, which pays at the 100% disability rate even if your combined rating is below 100%. We gather employment history, vocational evidence, and medical documentation to prove that your disabilities make steady work impossible (something many Louisville veterans face due to chronic pain, PTSD, mobility limitations, or other severe conditions).
- DIC and Survivor Benefits: We also assist Louisville families who have lost a veteran. If a service-connected condition contributed to the veteran’s death, spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and other survivor benefits. Our lawyers are experienced in the more difficult cases that the VA sometimes denies, and can help families navigate the VA’s complex requirements with clarity and compassion.
Disability Ratings and Compensation
The VA assigns a disability rating to measure how severely your service-connected conditions affect your health, daily functioning, and ability to work. This rating, expressed as a percentage from 0% to 100% in 10% increments, directly determines the amount of tax-free monthly compensation you receive.
When you have more than one service-connected condition, the VA uses a combined ratings formula rather than simple math. Even two severe disabilities won’t necessarily add up the way you might expect. If you’re unsure how your conditions stack together, our VA Disability Calculator can help estimate your combined rating and your potential monthly benefit.
Below are the current monthly disability payments for a single veteran with no dependents, based on the VA’s disability rating schedule.
- 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
These amounts increase if you have a spouse, dependent children, or dependent parents. In addition to disability compensation, Louisville veterans also receive federal and state benefits. Our lawyers can help you obtain everything you’re entitled to.
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Proving Toxic Exposure Claims
Many veterans living in Louisville and Jefferson County served at military installations in or out of state where they were exposed to hazardous chemicals, burn pits, contaminated water, industrial solvents, or toxic firefighting foams. Nearby bases include:
- Fort Knox – Less than an hour away from Louisville, Fort Knox is a known site of PFAS contamination. Official DoD records and environmental assessments have identified PFOS and PFOA in groundwater and soil, along with additional contaminants such as solvents, petroleum products, and pesticides. Veterans who worked in aircraft rescue, fire protection, vehicle maintenance, or fuel operations may have had significant exposure.
- Fort Campbell – Located southwest of Lexington, right across the border in Tennessee, Fort Campbell is closely associated with many Louisville veterans. Environmental investigations have identified PFAS contamination, fuel spills, solvent pollution, and munitions-related waste at various locations across the installation.
Although the PACT Act expanded eligibility for several types of toxic exposure, most veterans still have to show their conditions are connected to their time in service. This means providing both strong medical documentation and proof of exposure, something that can be challenging when contamination occurred decades earlier or was not disclosed at the time.
Hill & Ponton assists veterans in proving toxic exposure and our map of toxic military bases can help identify the disabilities associated with specific toxins. Even if the VA previously rejected your disability claim, our attorneys can reassess your eligibility and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us to discuss your case and legal options.
What Does It Take to Win VA Disability?
To win a VA disability claim, you must prove that your current health struggles are rooted in your military service. The VA follows a strict set of criteria, and benefits are only granted if your claim satisfies all three essential elements of service connection.
- Documentation of a Current Disability: The VA requires a formal diagnosis from a qualified medical professional. Whether you receive care at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center or through a private specialist in Jefferson County, your medical records must be recent and specific, with a clinical diagnosis of the condition you are claiming.
- Evidence of an In-Service Incident or Exposure: Next, you must provide proof of an event, injury, or onset of symptoms that occurred during your time in uniform. This could mean injuries sustained during training at Fort Knox, toxic exposure or records from a combat deployment.
- A Medical Nexus (The Link Between the Diagnosis and the In-Service Event): The most critical piece of the puzzle, the nexus, is a medical opinion stating that your disability is “at least as likely as not” caused by your service. A compelling nexus letter uses medical reasoning and your specific history to bridge the gap between your service records and your current diagnosis.
Many veterans spend years fighting the VA on their own, only to be denied because their evidence doesn’t meet VA standards. As attorneys specializing in VA disability law, our job is to handle the complicated appeals process on your behalf. We understand how to make your case so the VA has the information it needs to grant the benefits you deserve.
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Why Choose Hill & Ponton?
The VA appeals system is notoriously complex, governed by strict deadlines, specialized forms, and evolving regulations that can easily lead to setbacks. When the VA issues a denial or assigns a rating that fails to reflect the true severity of your condition, having an experienced disability lawyer in your corner can be the difference between a rejection and a successful appeal. Here is what our VA-accredited attorneys provide to Louisville veterans:
- Deep Understanding of the VA System – Our team stays at the forefront of every legal shift, policy update, and procedural requirement. We craft your appeal using the most current and effective strategies, ensuring that no detail is overlooked and every piece of evidence is leveraged to your advantage.
- Expert Guidance on the Best Appeal Path – Not every case follows the same route. Whether your situation requires a Supplemental Claim, a Higher-Level Review, or representation before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, we do the heavy lifting. We gather the necessary medical records, identify the evidence the VA is looking for, and present a persuasive, thorough legal argument.
- Total Case Management – We take the entire administrative burden of an appeal off your shoulders. From securing your C-File and coordinating independent medical opinions to speaking with the VA on your behalf, we handle every detail. This allows you to focus on your health and your family while we fight for your stability and your benefits.
Local Resources for Veterans in Louisville
The VA Louisville Health Care System, led by the Robley Rex VA Medical Center, serves veterans across Louisville, Jefferson County, and surrounding Kentucky communities. Veterans can access medical care, mental health services, benefits assistance, and community-based support designed to help them navigate both their health needs and the VA disability system.
- Robley Rex VA Medical Center: The main VA hospital for the Louisville region, offering primary care, specialty care, mental health services, prosthetics, women’s health, and emergency services. Address: 800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206. Phone: 502-287-4000
- Louisville Vet Center: Provides confidential readjustment counseling, PTSD and MST treatment, family and couples counseling, grief and bereavement support, and assistance with VA benefit applications. Address: 1347 South Third Street, Louisville, KY 40208. Phone: 502-287-6710
Veterans’ Housing Assistance and Support
Louisville has one of the largest veteran populations in Kentucky and maintains a strong network of federal, state, and community programs aimed at preventing and ending veteran homelessness. The Robley Rex VA Medical Center oversees homeless veteran services throughout the Louisville area, coordinating outreach teams, housing specialists, and mental health providers to help veterans access stable, long-term housing.
Key components of Louisville’s VA Homeless Programs include crisis intervention and emergency outreach for unhoused veterans, housing navigation services to connect veterans with permanent housing options, case management support for those transitioning from homelessness to stable living arrangements, and referrals for mental health and substance-use treatment through VA providers and local community partners. Many Louisville veterans also access HUD-VASH vouchers, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), and community shelters that work closely with VA case managers.
How Hill & Ponton Supports Louisville Veterans Facing Housing Challenges
At Hill & Ponton, we prioritize the veterans who are struggling financially due to VA denials or unfairly low disability ratings. These errors can lead directly to housing instability, difficulty paying utilities, and an inability to cover basic living costs. For over 30 decades, we have represented disabled veterans who come to us after being unfairly denied or underrated by the VA, with a 96% success rate.
Our VA-accredited attorneys are committed to helping veterans secure the rating they should have received the first time, or any additional compensation they qualify for. Together, we can win the benefits necessary to ensure stability for you and your family. If your compensation is lower than what it should be given your condition, or if your claim was outright denied, contact us for a free evaluation of your case.