If the VA denied your disability claim or gave you a rating that doesn’t truly reflect how your condition impacts your life, you’re not alone. Many Missouri veterans begin the process hopeful, only to end up frustrated by missing paperwork or confusing decisions.
The truth is, the VA system is complicated. A single overlooked detail or missing piece of medical evidence can cause an otherwise valid claim to be denied or underrated. And far too often, the burden falls on the veteran to fix it. That’s where we step in.
Our attorneys are VA-accredited and experienced in every stage of the appeals process. We know what the VA looks for, and how to present strong, evidence-based arguments that get results. Whether your claim was mishandled, denied, or shortchanged, we can help you push back and get a more favorable decision.
Missouri is home to almost 120,000 veterans receiving disability benefits, but many more are still missing out on the support they deserve. If you served your country and are now fighting for recognition and fair compensation, Hill & Ponton is ready to stand with you.
Let us review your situation, explain your options, and assist you in taking the next step toward the disability benefits you’ve earned.
Our Legal Services for Missouri Veterans
- Disability Compensation: We help Missouri veterans obtain the monthly compensation they deserve for service-connected physical and mental health conditions. Our team gathers medical records, military service documentation, and expert medical opinions to build a strong, evidence-backed case and fight for every dollar you’ve earned.
- Appeals: If your VA claim was denied or you received a disability rating that doesn’t reflect the true severity of your condition, we can handle the appeals process on your behalf. We’ll present a thorough, well-supported case to challenge the VA’s decision and pursue the benefits you’re entitled to receive.
- Rating Increases: If your condition has worsened since the VA issued your initial rating, you may qualify for a higher rating (and greater monthly benefits). We help veterans document those changes and secure the increase they deserve.
- Survivor Benefits: We proudly support the spouses, children, and parents of Missouri veterans who died from service-connected conditions. Our attorneys guide families through the process of obtaining death and survivor benefits under VA and Missouri programs.
- Special Monthly Compensation: Veterans with severe or multiple disabilities (such as the loss of use of limbs, blindness, or need for Aid & Assistance) may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation, which provides financial support beyond the standard 100% disability benefits.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability: If your service-connected disabilities prevent you from holding steady, full-time employment, you may be eligible for TDIU. This benefit pays at the 100% rate even if your combined VA rating is below 100%.
What Compensation and Benefits Are Available to You?
Your VA disability rating is the foundation of the financial and medical support you’re set to receive. It measures how much your service-connected condition affects your daily life, including your ability to work, care for yourself, and maintain your overall well-being.
Ratings are assigned in 10% increments, ranging from 10% to 100%. As the percentage increases, so does your monthly, tax-free compensation.
If you have more than one service-connected condition, the VA uses a combined ratings formula that often results in a total rating that’s lower than what you might expect. Which is why even a small increase in your rating matters!
Below are the current VA monthly compensation rates for a single Missouri veteran with no dependents:
- 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 are updated yearly to reflect cost-of-living increases. Veterans with dependents (spouse, children or dependent parents) also receive additional compensation.
Beyond federal VA benefits, Missouri offers its own benefits to disabled veterans and their families, including property tax credits, vehicle sales tax exemptions, and permit-free hunting privileges for veterans rated 60% or higher (deer, turkey, and waterfowl require standard permits).
If you believe your current VA rating is not accurate, Hill & Ponton can pursue a higher rating to increase your monthly payments and ensure that every type of support available to Missouri veterans is within reach.
Work with us to get your benefits
When Should You Hire a VA Disability Lawyer?
Many Missouri veterans begin their VA disability claim on their own, and that’s a great first step. But if your claim is denied or your disability rating is lower than it should be, that’s when legal representation can make all the difference.
The VA appeals process can be confusing and time-consuming, with strict deadlines and evolving rules that are hard to keep up with. One missing form, overlooked piece of evidence or late filing can set your case back months, or even longer.
Having a VA-accredited lawyer on your side gives you a knowledgeable advocate who understands how the system works. At Hill & Ponton, VA disability law is all we do. Our attorneys focus exclusively on helping veterans appeal denied or underrated claims.
We handle the details that matter: gathering medical records, locating critical service documents, securing credible medical opinions, and choosing the best legal path. Then we present your case, showing how your disability affects your daily life, your ability to work, and your long-term health.
Your VA Appeal Options
- Supplemental Claim: If you’ve found new and relevant evidence (such as updated medical records, a new diagnosis, or service documents that weren’t reviewed originally), this option lets you submit that information for reconsideration.
- Higher-Level Review: If you think the VA made a mistake the first time, you can request a fresh review by a more senior VA employee. No new evidence is allowed, but this can be a quicker way to resolve clear errors.
- Board of Veterans’ Appeals Review: The final level of appeal lets you choose a direct review, add new evidence, or request a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. While this process takes much longer than other types of appeal, it also offers the most thorough review.
If the VA isn’t recognizing the full impact of your service-connected condition, we can help. We offer free case evaluations, charge no upfront fees, and only get paid if we win. Tell us your story and let us fight on your behalf for the benefits you’ve earned.
Winning Your VA Disability Appeal
Far too many veterans in Missouri find themselves frustrated by the VA system: stuck waiting, appealing, or wondering why a legitimate claim was denied.
In most cases, it’s because the VA didn’t get the right documentation or failed to properly connect the veteran’s health condition to their military service. To approve a VA disability claim, the VA needs three essential elements:
- Current Diagnosis: Proof from a licensed medical provider that you have a current, documented health condition.
- In-Service Event: Evidence of something that happened during your service (such as an injury, illness, traumatic incident, or toxic exposure) that could have caused or worsened your condition.
- Nexus: A medical opinion that links your current disability to your time in service, stating that it is “at least as likely as not” connected to your military experience.
Even when a veteran meets these criteria, missing or weak evidence in one area can lead to a denial or underrating. Common reasons Missouri veterans lose VA claims include:
- No clear medical connection between their condition and service
- Incomplete or outdated medical records
- Missing appeal or supplemental evidence deadlines
- VA mistakes in interpreting service records or medical history
Has your claim been denied? Hill & Ponton specializes in winning complicated cases. Contact us and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Get a free case evaluation
VA Disability for Toxic Exposure
Missouri is home to several active, reserve, and decommissioned military installations where environmental contamination has been documented. Veterans who served at or near these locations should seek VA disability benefits if they later developed health conditions linked to toxic exposure.
- Fort Leonard Wood: This active Army installation in Pulaski County has confirmed PFAS contamination from AFFF firefighting foam used in training and response operations. Veterans stationed there may be at risk for cancers and other serious health conditions linked to PFAS chemicals.
- Whiteman Air Force Base: Located near Knob Noster in west-central Missouri, Whiteman AFB has confirmed PFAS contamination from AFFF firefighting foam. The base is currently being evaluated for the extent of soil and groundwater contamination.
- Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base: This former Air Force base near Belton and Grandview, south of Kansas City, closed in 1994. It has confirmed PFAS contamination from AFFF firefighting foam and is a federal environmental cleanup site with documented soil and groundwater contamination including TCE, PCE, and vinyl chloride.
- St. Louis FUSRAP Sites (Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, Coldwater Creek, SLAPS): From 1942 to 1957, the Mallinckrodt plant in downtown St. Louis processed uranium for the U.S. nuclear weapons program. Radioactive waste contaminated Coldwater Creek and surrounding communities in north St. Louis County. The Army Corps of Engineers continues remediation of multiple sites across the region.
- Weldon Spring Ordnance Works: About 30 miles west of St. Louis, this site was used for TNT production during World War II and later for uranium processing by the Atomic Energy Commission. Contaminants include uranium, thorium, radium, TNT, DNT, lead, and PCBs. Remediation of the chemical plant was completed in 2005, but groundwater restoration continues.
- Lake City Army Ammunition Plant: Located in eastern Jackson County near Independence, this active ammunition manufacturing facility has been on the EPA Superfund National Priorities List since 1987 due to contamination from chlorinated solvents, explosives residue, heavy metals, and other hazardous substances.
Veterans with conditions caused or aggravated by toxic exposure could be eligible for compensation, even if previously denied. Get in touch with our legal team for a free evaluation. We specialize in VA appeals and only get paid if we win your claim.
Legal Resources and Lawyers Near You
St. Louis
St. Louis VA Regional Office: 9700 Page Ave, St. Louis, MO 63132. Phone: 314-801-0800
Independence
Missouri Veterans Commission: 3675 S Noland Rd, Independence, MO 64055. Phone: 816-325-5882
Independence, MO VA Lawyers
Missouri VA Facilities Providing Veteran Assistance
Vet centers
- St. Louis Vet Center: 287 North Lindbergh Boulevard, Creve Coeur, MO 63141. Phone: 314-894-5739
- Kansas City Vet Center: 4800 Main Street, Suite 107, Kansas City, MO 64112. Phone: 816-922-5300
- Springfield Vet Center: 319 East Battlefield Road, Suite B, Springfield, MO 65807. Phone: 417-891-4988
- Columbia Vet Center: 2475 Broadway Bluffs Drive, Suite 40, Columbia, MO 65201. Phone: 573-814-6206
VA Medical centers
- John J. Cochran Veterans Hospital: 915 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63106. Phone: 314-652-4100
- Jefferson Barracks VA Medical Center: 1 Jefferson Barracks Drive, St. Louis, MO 63125. Phone: 314-652-4100
- Kansas City VA Medical Center: 4801 Linwood Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64128. Phone: 816-861-4700
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital: 800 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65201. Phone: 573-814-6000
- John J. Pershing VA Medical Center: 1500 North Westwood Boulevard, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901. Phone: 573-686-4151
VA Clinics / CBOC
- Belton VA Clinic: 1900 East 173rd Street, Belton, MO 64012. Phone: 816-922-2161
- Branson VA Clinic: 5571 North Gretna Road, Branson, MO 65616. Phone: 417-243-2300
- Camdenton VA Clinic: 30 Lakeview Drive, Camdenton, MO 65020. Phone: 573-317-9660
- Cameron VA Clinic: 311 Little Brick Road, Cameron, MO 64429. Phone: 816-922-2651
- Cape Girardeau VA Clinic: 711 South Mount Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703. Phone: 573-686-4151
- Buttonwood Drive VA Clinic (Columbia): 3425 Buttonwood Drive, Columbia, MO 65201. Phone: 573-814-6263
- Excelsior Springs VA Clinic: 2366 Vintage Drive, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024. Phone: 816-922-2970
- Farmington (Robert Silvey) VA Clinic: 1580 West Columbia Street, Farmington, MO 63640. Phone: 573-760-1365
- Florissant (St. Louis County) VA Clinic: 6854 Parker Road, Florissant, MO 63033. Phone: 314-652-4100
- Franklin County VA Clinic: 1627 A Roy Drive, Washington, MO 63090. Phone: 314-652-4100
- Honor VA Clinic (Kansas City): 4251 Northern Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64133. Phone: 816-861-4700
- Jefferson City VA Clinic: 3430 West Edgewood Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Phone: 573-635-0233
- Joplin VA Clinic: 3015 South Connecticut Avenue, Joplin, MO 64804. Phone: 800-691-8387
- Kirksville VA Clinic: 506 Rosewood Drive, Kirksville, MO 63501. Phone: 660-627-8387
- Manchester Avenue VA Clinic: 4974 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110. Phone: 314-652-4100
- Marshfield VA Clinic: 1240 Banning Street, Marshfield, MO 65706. Phone: 417-468-1963
- Mexico VA Clinic: 3460 South Clark Street, Mexico, MO 65265. Phone: 573-581-9630
- Nevada VA Clinic: 1220 East Austin Boulevard, Nevada, MO 64772. Phone: 816-922-2635
- Platte City VA Clinic: 2303 Higgins Road, Suite F, Platte City, MO 64079. Phone: 913-758-6980
- Sedalia VA Clinic: 981 Winchester Drive, Sedalia, MO 65301. Phone: 660-826-3800
- Sikeston VA Clinic: 903 South Kings Highway, Sikeston, MO 63801. Phone: 573-472-2139
- Gene Taylor Veterans’ Outpatient Clinic (Springfield): 1850 West Republic Road, Springfield, MO 65807. Phone: 844-501-8387
- St. Charles County VA Clinic: 2845 Veterans Memorial Parkway, St. Charles, MO 63303. Phone: 314-652-4100
- St. James VA Clinic: 207 Matlock Drive, St. James, MO 65559. Phone: 573-265-0448
- St. Joseph VA Clinic: 4782 Sienna Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64506. Phone: 913-758-6925
- Warrensburg VA Clinic: 702 East Young Street, Warrensburg, MO 64093. Phone: 816-922-2165
- Washington Avenue VA Clinic: 2727 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103. Phone: 314-652-4100
- Waynesville VA Clinic: 700 GW Lane Street, Waynesville, MO 65583. Phone: 573-774-2285
- West Plains VA Clinic: 1418 Doctors Drive, West Plains, MO 65775. Phone: 888-557-8262
Housing Assistance and Support for Veterans
The 2024 Point-in-Time Count recorded 513 veterans experiencing homelessness on a single night in Missouri. Many more are at risk due to rising rents and economic pressures across the state.
The Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) runs a statewide Homeless Assistance referral program that connects veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness with local housing partners, emergency services, HUD-VASH, the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, and other community resources.
At the state level, the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) funds emergency and supportive housing through the Housing Emergency Solutions Program and the Missouri Housing Trust Fund.
MHDC also operates the statewide Affordable Housing Locator and coordinates with the Missouri Balance of State Continuum of Care and regional CoCs in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield, which are the main pathways veterans use to access HUD-VASH and transitional housing.
When housing instability is connected to denied or incorrect VA disability benefits, a higher rating can make all the difference. Many Missouri veterans struggling with homelessness or near-homelessness are simply not receiving the level of VA compensation they are entitled to.
At Hill & Ponton, we prioritize representing veterans who face unemployment, housing insecurity, or financial hardship. We charge no upfront fees, and we are only paid if we win your case. Contact us for a free case evaluation. We’ll fight to ensure you receive the full support and benefits you deserve.