Are you struggling to get the VA benefits you deserve? Our Florida VA law firm is entirely dedicated to assisting disabled veterans and their families. Hill & Ponton lawyers offer:
- Experience and Empathy – Decades of expertise in VA disability law and accompanying Florida veterans with understanding and compassion.
- A Proven Track Record – We win 96% of the cases we take.
- No Win, No Fee – You don’t pay us unless we win your appeal.
We know that choosing the right advocate can make all the difference in your disability appeal. If you are a veteran in the Tampa Bay area and your VA disability claim has been denied or underrated, let us put our experience to work for you.
Our Legal Services for Tampa Veterans
- Disability Compensation: We help Tampa veterans secure monthly, tax-free payments from the VA for disabilities that are connected to their military service.
- Appeals: If your VA disability claim was denied, we can help you navigate the complex VA appeals process. Our attorneys understand the nuances of VA law and can build a strong case to challenge the denial.
- Increases: If your service-connected condition has worsened, or if you believe your initial disability rating was too low, we can assist you in filing for an increased rating.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): We assist surviving spouses, children, and dependent parents of Tampa veterans who died from service-related conditions or as a result of VA medical care.
- Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): Tampa veterans with certain severe disabilities may be eligible for higher rates of compensation known as SMC. We can help determine your eligibility and file for these benefits.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU): If your service-connected disabilities prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, you may be eligible for TDIU, which pays at the 100% disability rate, even if your combined rating is lower. We have extensive experience with TDIU claims for Tampa veterans.
Disability Ratings and Compensation
A disability rating is a percentage assigned by the VA, from 0% to 100%, that reflects the severity of your service-connected disability. The disability rating determines the amount of monthly disability compensation you will receive. A higher rating results in higher monthly payments.
If you have multiple service-connected disabilities, the VA uses a “whole person theory” to determine a combined disability rating. For the most current rates and to understand how combined ratings are calculated, you can use our VA Disability Calculator.
This is what a single Tampa veteran with no dependents receives:
- 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
When Should You Hire a VA Disability Lawyer?
While you are not required to have a lawyer to file a VA disability claim or appeal, legal representation can be highly beneficial for the VA appeals process, which has specific deadlines and legal standards. An experienced VA disability attorney understands these complexities. They can:
- Analyze why your claim was denied
- Develop a legal strategy for your appeal
- Gather and submit crucial evidence, including medical records and expert opinions
- Craft persuasive legal arguments
- Represent you at hearings, if necessary
- Stay current on procedural and regulatory changes within the VA, which can be frequent and impact your case.
Our focus at Hill & Ponton is on appeals, where our legal skills can make the most significant impact for Tampa veterans. Read our clients’ stories to find out how we’ve helped them.
Winning VA Disability Claims
Unfortunately, many initial VA disability claims are denied. This can happen for various reasons, such as insufficient medical evidence, a lack of a clear connection between your condition and your military service, or errors in the application process.
When you appeal a rating decision, the VA is looking for:
- A current, diagnosed disability: You must have a current medical diagnosis of the condition for which you are claiming benefits.
- An in-service event, injury, or illness: There must be evidence that something happened during your military service that could have caused or aggravated your condition.
- A medical nexus between your current disability and the in-service event: A medical professional must provide an opinion that it is “at least as likely as not” that your disability is related to your service.
Our legal team serving Tampa veterans meticulously reviews your case to ensure these requirements are met and effectively presented to the VA.
Get help with your appeal
Winning Toxic Exposure Claims
Many veterans are exposed to harmful substances during their service, whether at stateside bases or overseas. These exposures can lead to serious health conditions years later. Examples include exposure to Agent Orange, burn pits, TCE, PFAS, etc.
While specific widespread toxic exposure incidents at bases in the region are not as prominently documented as at some other locations, some of the 120,000 veterans in the Greater Tampa Bay area may have served at or been deployed to locations with toxic risks, such as MacDill Air Force Base.
Located near Tampa and home to United States Central Command, United States Special Operations Command and the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill AFB is being investigated for PFAS contamination from the use of firefighting foam.
Tampa Bay veterans may have also served at Coast Guard Sector St Petersburg, and have been exposed to asbestos on older cutters, lead, or other dangerous materials.
Hill & Ponton has extensive experience with toxic exposure claims. We help Tampa Bay veterans explore potential exposure events from their entire service history. If you believe you were exposed to toxins during your service, contact us to discuss your case.
Resources for Tampa Veterans
The VA offers numerous resources to support disabled veterans in Tampa, from counseling and healthcare to financial assistance.
Veteran assistance
James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital: 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 | Phone: (813) 972-2000
St. Petersburg VA Regional Benefit Office: Processes VA claims for Florida veterans, including those in Tampa. Address: 9500 Bay Pines Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33744 | Main Phone: 800-827-1000
The HUD-VASH Program: Combines rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the VA.
Tampa Vet Center: Offers readjustment counseling, outreach and referral services. Address: 9206 King Palm Drive, Tampa, FL 33619 | Phone: (813) 372-0400
Hillsborough County Veterans Helping Veterans: Provides emergency assistance to local veterans to prevent homelessness, hunger and loss of utilities. Phone: 813-450-9082
Local VA clinics
James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital Primary Care Annex: 13515 Lake Terrace Lane, Tampa, FL 33637 | Phone: (813) 998-8000
Bruce B. Downs Boulevard VA Clinic: 12210 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612 | Phone: (813) 972-2000 Ext. 5801
Forty-Second Street VA Clinic: 14530 42nd Street, Tampa, FL 33613 | Phone: (813) 972-2000
Forty-Sixth Street North VA Clinic: 14020 North 46th Street, Tampa, FL 33613 | Phone: (813) 972-7529
Forty-Sixth Street South VA Clinic: 10770 North 46th Street, Suite 200, Tampa, FL 33617 | Phone: (813) 972-7551
Hidden River VA Clinic: 13515 Lake Terrace Lane, Tampa, FL 33637 | Phone: (813) 998-8000
Homeless Veteran Support in Tampa
Access to safe and affordable housing is critical and local veteran homelessness is a concern, though significant progress has been made. Tampa and Hillsborough County offer several resources to assist local veterans facing homelessness, including HUD Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance and SSVF temporary financial assistance and support to prevent homelessness and help rapidly re-house veterans who become homeless.
At Hill & Ponton, we specialize in helping veterans who struggle with housing insecurity or lack employment. If you’re a disabled veteran living in Tampa Bay who’s been denied or underrated by the VA, contact our Tampa disability lawyers for a free case evaluation.