Navigating the VA disability system can be frustrating and overwhelming, especially when you’ve already given so much in service to your country. Too often, disabled veterans are left waiting months or even years for the compensation they’ve rightfully earned. Some receive denial letters for lack of sufficient evidence, while others are assigned ratings that don’t come close to reflecting the impact of their disabilities.
That’s where Hill & Ponton comes in. Veterans’ disability law isn’t just one of our practice areas, it’s our entire mission. Our VA-accredited attorneys have helped thousands of veterans nationwide secure the benefits they deserve, including many right here in Louisiana.
If your claim was denied, your rating feels too low, or you’ve been told you don’t qualify for Individual Unemployability or Special Monthly Compensation, we can help. We’ll review your case for free, identify what went wrong, and fight for the rating and back pay you’re owed.
With a 96% success rate in the cases we take on, Hill & Ponton is proud to stand with the veterans of Slidell, helping ensure that your service and your sacrifice are fully recognized.
Our Legal Services
- Disability Compensation: We help veterans obtain the maximum VA disability benefits available for injuries, illnesses, or mental health conditions that were caused or aggravated by their military service.
- VA Disability Appeals: If the VA denied your claim or assigned a rating that’s too low, we’ll identify the best appeal option and build the strongest possible case with new medical evidence, records, and expert opinions.
- Increased Compensation: If your condition has worsened since your initial decision, or the VA underrated your disability, we’ll help you pursue a rating increase so your compensation accurately reflects the severity of your service-connected condition.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability: If your service-connected conditions prevent you from maintaining steady employment, you may qualify for TDIU, which pays at the 100% disability rate even if your combined rating is lower.
- DIC and Survivor Benefits: We assist the surviving spouses, children, and parents of deceased veterans in applying for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and other benefits available after the death of a veteran.
- Special Monthly Compensation: Veterans with severe disabilities may qualify for SMC, which increases compensation above the standard 100% rate. Our attorneys will make sure you win everything you’re entitled to.
What Compensation and Benefits Are Available to You?
Your VA disability rating determines how much monthly compensation you receive for service-connected conditions. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs assigns ratings in 10% increments, based on how severe your physical or mental health condition is and how much it limits your daily life or ability to work.
When you have multiple service-connected disabilities, the VA doesn’t simply add the numbers together. Instead, it uses a combined ratings formula that often results in a lower overall percentage than you might expect.
That’s why it’s critical to ensure every condition is properly documented and rated as high as your medical evidence supports. Even a small increase in your percentage can make a big difference in your monthly income.
Here’s the 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
Additional amounts are available for veterans with spouses, children, or dependent parents. You can calculate your combined rating and compensation by using the VA disability calculator.
Beyond federal VA compensation, veterans living in Slidell can also take advantage of Louisiana state benefits that help reduce living costs and provide additional financial security, such as tax breaks, employment preference, or free college tuition for the spouses and children of 100% disabled veterans.
Work with us to get your Benefits
Proving Toxic Exposure Claims
Many service members were exposed to hazardous substances during their military service (sometimes overseas, but sometimes here at home) and developed related medical conditions such as cancers, respiratory disease, autoimmune disorders, and organ damage.
Veterans are especially likely to have been exposed to PFAS, due to how widespread it is among military bases throughout the U.S. Nearby facilities investigated for PFAS by the Department of Defense include Camp Villere, just north of Slidell, and NAS JRB New Orleans, but most installations have not yet tested surrounding wells or released off‑site contamination data.
Veterans who served at contaminated military bases, or who handled fuels, solvents, or burn pit materials during deployments, may now suffer from chronic illnesses tied to those exposures.
At Hill & Ponton, we’ve spent decades representing veterans across the country who were exposed to toxins and denied the benefits they deserve. Our attorneys understand the science and the law behind toxic exposure claims, and know how to link your diagnosis to your service history.
We can help you identify whether your service locations fall within known or suspected contamination sites, gather the medical and environmental evidence needed to connect your condition to exposure, and pursue the highest possible disability rating for your condition. Contact us for a free case evaluation. We charge no upfront fees, and we only get paid if we win your case.
Meeting the VA’s Disability Claim Requirements
Many veterans receive a denial after their first VA disability claim. It’s usually because the claim lacks the specific medical evidence or documentation the VA requires to make a connection between the veteran’s health condition and their military service. To approve a claim, the VA must see three key elements clearly supported by evidence:
- A Current Diagnosis – You must have an official, documented diagnosis of a physical or mental health condition from a qualified medical provider.
- Evidence of an In-Service Event or Illness -There must be credible records or statements showing that something occurred during your military service that caused or worsened your condition.
- A Link Between the Diagnosis and the In-Service Event – A licensed medical professional must provide an opinion stating that your condition is at least as likely as not related to your military service. This link (known as the nexus) is often the most important and most commonly missing piece in a VA claim.
Our VA disability lawyers work hand-in-hand with medical experts to obtain nexus letters and collect the detailed evidence the VA needs to see. Whether your claim was denied due to missing documentation, an unclear medical connection, or a low disability rating, we’ll build a compelling appeal and fight for the full benefits you’ve earned.
free case evaluation
Why Choose Hill & Ponton?
Our firm was founded by a veteran, and many of our attorneys and staff come from military families. We understand the military mindset, the challenges of post-service life, and the frustration that comes when the VA denies a claim. This shared experience drives us to advocate fiercely for veterans in Slidell, Louisiana and across the country.
Unlike general law firms or benefit organizations that juggle many types of cases, our attorneys focus exclusively on VA disability law. From denied claims to underrated conditions, we know the VA system inside and out, including recent law changes, regulatory shifts, and appeal processes that affect disabled veterans.
We don’t just refile paperwork. We build your appeal from the ground up with detailed medical records, expert opinions, and legal strategies that support the true severity of your disability. Our goal is simple: push for every dollar and rating you’ve rightfully earned.
Our law firm has a 96% national success rate for the VA appeals we accept. We’ve helped thousands of veterans (many right here in Louisiana) secure the benefits they were previously denied. When the system fails you, we step in with knowledge, compassion, and relentless advocacy.
Contact us for a free case evaluation. We never charge anything upfront. If we take your case, you won’t owe us a dime unless we win. Let us review your denial letter or rating decision for free, because understanding your rights is the first step toward getting what you’re owed.
Local Resources for Slidell Veterans
There are more than 6,000 veterans living in Slidell and it is estimated that roughly one in three lives with a service-connected disability. The VA offers veterans residing in Slidell and the surrounding St. Tammany Parish a variety of services tailored to support their health and well‑being, from medical care to legal assistance:
- St. Tammany Parish Department of Veterans Affairs – Provides help with VA claims, appeals, pensions, survivor benefits, and state-specific veteran programs. Address: 520 Old Spanish Trail, Suite 2-E Slidell, LA 70458 | Phone: (985) 645‑3500
- Slidell VA Clinic – Provides primary care, mental health care, telehealth, pain management, chronic disease treatment, and referrals to larger VA facilities. Address: 60491 Doss Drive, Suite B, Slidell, LA 70460 | Phone: 985‑690‑2626
Veterans’ Housing Assistance and Support in Slidell, LA
Veterans in Slidell and Southeast Louisiana can access several programs designed to provide housing support, case management, and pathways to longer-term stability:
- VA Southeast Louisiana’s Homeless Veteran Care program connects homeless or at‑risk veterans with resources such as emergency shelter, transitional housing, medical and mental health services, job training, and support for reintegration.
- The Housing Authority of the City of Slidell administers public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs. Its office is located at 1250 Martin Luther King Drive, Slidell, LA 70458.
- Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) in Southeast Louisiana assists low-income veterans or veteran households at risk of homelessness. It offers help with rent, deposits, utility payments, and case management.
Beyond homelessness, many veterans in Slidell and surrounding areas live in housing that is overcrowded, deteriorated, or financially unstable. Affordable housing is limited, and rising rental costs can quickly overwhelm those with fixed or low incomes. This is often made worse when veterans are denied their disability benefits.
Hill & Ponton specializes in winning appeals and increasing compensation for disabled veterans in unstable living situations, with no upfront costs. Contact us today for a free evaluation of your case.