Has the VA denied or underrated you? Officially, 19.1% of Pennsylvania’s more than 700,000 veterans live with a service-connected disability. But many more are still not recognized and cannot access the benefits they deserve. That’s where Hill & Ponton lawyers step in.
Whether you’re struggling with a denied VA claim, trying to increase a disability rating, seeking TDIU or special monthly compensation, our VA-accredited attorneys are here to help you secure the benefits you’ve earned through service and sacrifice.

Our Lawyers Help You Secure Maximum Benefits
- Disability Compensation: We assist veterans in securing tax-free monetary benefits for disabilities resulting from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.
- Appeals: If your VA disability claim has been denied, we specialize in identifying errors and building strong cases for appeal.
- Increased Ratings: If your service-connected condition has worsened and your current disability rating doesn’t accurately reflect its severity, we can help you file for an increased rating.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): We help surviving spouses, children, and parents of service members who died in the line of duty or from a service-related injury or illness.
- Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): We can help determine if you qualify for these higher levels of compensation for specific, severe disabilities like loss of limbs, blindness, or the need for aid and attendance.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU): If your service-connected disabilities prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, we can help you seek TDIU, which provides compensation at the 100% disability rate.
Disability Ratings and Compensation
Once your claim is approved, the VA will assign a disability rating from 0% to 100%, in 10% increments. This rating reflects the severity of your condition and directly determines the amount of your monthly tax-free compensation.
If you have multiple service-connected disabilities, the VA uses a complex formula to determine your combined disability rating. It is not simple addition. For example, a 50% rating and a 30% rating do not combine to 80%. You can estimate your potential benefits with our VA Disability Calculator.
Here’s how much a single Pennsylvania veteran with no dependents might earn per month based on the overall disability rating:
- 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
State Benefits for Pennsylvania Veterans
In addition to federal benefits, Pennsylvania offers its own state benefits to disabled veterans, from property tax exemptions to educational and employment opportunities, transportation discounts and free hunting permits.
Work with us to get your benefits
When Should You Hire a VA Disability Lawyer?
While you can navigate the VA system on your own or with the help of a Veteran Service Officer (VSO), there are distinct advantages to hiring an experienced VA disability attorney, especially for an appeal. The VA appeals process has become increasingly legalized, with complex regulations and procedural requirements. Staying current on these constant updates is a full-time job. A lawyer can:
- Analyze your VA file to identify legal errors made by the VA that led to a denial.
- Develop a comprehensive legal strategy tailored to your unique appeal.
- Gather new and material evidence, including critical medical records and expert opinions, to strengthen your case.
- Submit persuasive legal arguments and briefs on your behalf, ensuring your case is presented clearly and effectively.
- Represent you at hearings before a Veterans Law Judge, advocating directly for your rights.
Data has shown that veterans who are represented by an attorney have a significantly higher chance of winning their appeal compared to those who represent themselves. Hill & Ponton is proud to have a 96% success rate for the VA disability appeals we handle. Our attorneys’ focus and experience in this specific area of law allow us to build the strongest possible cases for our clients in Pennsylvania and across the U.S.
Winning Appeals in Pennsylvania
Navigating the appeals process is complex and governed by strict procedures and deadlines. The process generally requires three key things:
- A Current Diagnosed Disability: You must have a current physical or mental health condition diagnosed by a medical professional.
- An In-Service Event, Injury, or Illness: There must be documented proof of an incident, injury, or disease that occurred while you were on active duty.
- A Medical Nexus: A medical expert must provide an opinion that your current disability was “at least as likely as not” caused or aggravated by your in-service event.
Too often, veterans in Pennsylvania receive a denial from the VA not because their claim lacks merit, but because of errors in the application or insufficient evidence. The VA denies thousands of claims each year due to missing paperwork, missed deadlines, or a failure to prove the nexus, which is crucial.
Our lawyers specialize in gathering the necessary evidence, working with medical experts, and crafting a compelling legal argument to establish this nexus and win your appeal.
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VA Disability for Toxic Exposure During Military Service
For many veterans, a disability may not appear until years or even decades after service. This is especially true for conditions caused by toxic exposure. From contaminated water at military bases to burn pits in combat zones, many service members were exposed to hazardous substances that are now linked to serious health issues, including various cancers and respiratory conditions.
Pennsylvania veterans may have been exposed to toxins at various military installations before they returned home, including in the state of Pennsylvania itself. Some notable sites in Pennsylvania with known contamination issues include:
- Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) Willow Grove: This Pennsylvania base has significant PFAS contamination from the use of firefighting foam, as well as other toxins. Groundwater tests have shown PFAS levels thousands of times higher than the EPA’s safe limit, leading to concerns about a range of health issues for those who served or lived there.
- Carlisle Barracks: Historical fuel storage concerns. Currently investigated for PFAS.
- Horsham Air Guard Station: Known for PFAS contamination.
- Letterkenny Army Depot: This site near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania was used for decades for missile system maintenance, ammunition storage, and vehicle repair. These operations led to soil and groundwater contamination. It is a documented PFAS site.
- Middletown Air Depot: Currently the Harrisburg International Airport, it has a history of exposure to heavy metals, TCE and other VOCs.
- Tobyhanna Army Depot: An active army depot found to have been contaminated with VOCs and various other toxins.
- Warminster Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC): This Pennsylvania facility is a Superfund site due to contamination from PFAS and other industrial wastes like solvents and sludges.
VA Lawyers and Legal Resources Near You
Philadelphia
Philadelphia VA Regional Office: 5000 Wissahickon Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144 | Phone: 800-827-1000
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh VA Regional Office: 1000 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 | Phone: 800-827-1000
Pennsylvania VA Facilities
Veteran Assistance
Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA): This is the main state agency for veteran services. They oversee numerous programs, including financial assistance, veterans’ homes, and employment services. You can reach them at 1-800-547-2838.
County Director of Veterans Affairs: Every county in Pennsylvania has a Director of Veterans Affairs who can provide direct assistance and connect you with local resources.
PA VETConnect: This DMVA program is a coordinated effort to connect veterans to resources for housing, employment, and other challenges they may face.
VA Healthcare: Pennsylvania has dozens of VA clinics and Vet Centers across the state, providing accessible primary care, mental health counseling, and readjustment services. You can find a complete list and locate the facility nearest you on the VA’s Pennsylvania facilities directory.
VA Medical Centers
Altoona – James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center: 2907 Pleasant Valley Boulevard, Altoona, PA 16602
Butler VA Health Care System: 353 North Duffy Road, Butler, PA 16001
Coatesville VA Medical Center: 1400 Black Horse Hill Road, Coatesville, PA 19320
Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center (Philadelphia): 3900 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Erie VA Medical Center: 135 East 38th Street, Erie, PA 16504
Lebanon VA Medical Center: 1700 South Lincoln Avenue, Lebanon, PA 17042
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System: University Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15240
Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center: 1111 East End Blvd, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
Housing Assistance and Support for Pennsylvania Veterans
- Veterans Temporary Assistance (VTA): Administered by the DMVA, this program provides grants of up to $1,600 to help veterans with essential expenses like rent, mortgage, and utilities during a period of financial hardship.
- Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF): A federal program that provides grants to local non-profits to help low-income veteran families find and maintain stable housing.
- HUD-VASH Vouchers: A joint program between HUD and the VA that provides rental assistance vouchers and case management for homeless veterans.
At Hill & Ponton, we specialize in helping veterans who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or struggling to keep a job. If you’re a disabled veteran who’s been denied or underrated by the VA, contact our Pennsylvania VA lawyers for a free case evaluation.