Across Tennessee, over 120,000 veterans live with the lasting effects of their military service, such as PTSD, chronic pain or other disabilities. Yet too many find themselves struggling with a complex VA system, underrated or outright denied the benefits they deserve. Older veterans, in particular, often endure decades of uncompensated disabilities, living with conditions that were clearly caused or worsened by their time in uniform. That’s where Hill & Ponton can help.
Veterans’ disability law isn’t just part of what we do, it’s all we do. Our VA-accredited attorneys have represented thousands of disabled veterans across the country, including many right here in Tennessee, helping them overturn denied claims, raise unfair ratings, and win long-overdue benefits.
If the VA denied your claim, gave you a rating that’s too low, or failed to recognize your eligibility for TDIU or Special Monthly Compensation, we’ll step in and build the case the VA can’t ignore.
With a 96% national success rate in the cases we accept, our law firm has built its reputation on one mission: fighting for the veterans who fought for us. If you served this country and now face a battle with the VA, let us stand by your side and help you get the benefits you’ve earned.
Our Legal Services for Tennessee Veterans
- Disability Compensation: Our team helps Tennessee veterans obtain the maximum compensation available for physical or mental health conditions that were caused or aggravated by military service. We’ll gather the medical records, service documents, and expert opinions needed to prove your claim and secure every dollar you’ve earned.
- Appeals: If the VA denied your claim or gave you a rating that doesn’t reflect your true level of disability, we’ll take charge of the entire appeals process. From filing the correct paperwork to submitting new evidence and medical opinions, we’ll make sure your case is reviewed fairly and thoroughly.
- Rating Increases: If your health has declined or your condition has worsened since your initial rating, you may be entitled to higher monthly benefits. We’ll help you file for a rating increase and present the strongest possible medical and legal evidence to support it.
- DIC and Survivor Benefits: We assist the surviving spouses, children, and parents of Tennessee service members who died in the line of duty or from service-connected conditions. Our attorneys help families apply for DIC and other survivor benefits, ensuring they receive the financial support and recognition they deserve.
- Special Monthly Compensation: Veterans living with severe or multiple disabilities may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation, an additional payment above the 100% rate. If your SMC claim was denied or under-awarded, we’ll fight to make it right.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability: When your service-connected conditions prevent you from maintaining full-time employment, you may be eligible for TDIU, which pays at the 100% disability rate even if your combined rating is lower.
Disability Ratings and Compensation
Your VA disability rating represents how severe your service-connected condition is and how much it affects your ability to work and live comfortably. This rating, assigned in increments of 10% from 10% to 100%, directly determines how much tax-free monthly compensation you receive from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
If you have more than one service-connected condition, the VA doesn’t simply add up your percentages. Instead, it uses a combined ratings formula that often results in a lower total than expected. That’s why every percentage point matters – even a small increase in your rating can make a meaningful difference in your monthly benefits.
Below are the current 2025 VA monthly compensation rates for a single Tennessee 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 given to veterans with spouses, dependent children, or parents. The VA adjusts these figures annually to reflect cost-of-living increases. You can calculate your rating and monthly compensation by using the VA Disability Calculator.
Tennessee State Benefits for Disabled Veterans
Beyond federal VA compensation, the State of Tennessee offers several valuable programs that honor veterans’ service and help reduce financial strain. These include property tax relief, veterans’ hiring preference and tuition support such as the Helping Heroes Grant.
Work with us to get your benefits
When Should You Hire a VA Disability Lawyer?
Many veterans in Tennessee begin their disability claims on their own – and that’s a smart first step. But when the VA denies your claim or gives you a rating that doesn’t match the true impact of your condition, it’s time to bring in experienced help. The VA appeals process can be complicated, filled with technical rules, tight deadlines, and ever-changing requirements.
Working with a VA-accredited attorney gives you the advantage of experience and strategy. At Hill & Ponton, VA disability law is our entire focus. Our lawyers know the VA system from the inside out, and use that knowledge to build persuasive cases for Tennessee veterans who deserve better outcomes.
We take the time to gather every piece of relevant medical evidence, service record, and expert opinion to support your appeal. Then, we craft clear, evidence-based arguments that show exactly how your service-connected conditions affect your health, daily life, and ability to work.
Your Appeal Options
- Supplemental Claim: If you’ve found new and relevant evidence (like updated medical reports, new diagnoses, or service documents that weren’t previously considered) this option gives the VA another chance to review your claim in light of that information.
- Higher-Level Review: If you believe the VA made a mistake the first time, you can request a Higher-Level Review. A more senior VA reviewer will re-examine your claim without needing new evidence. This option can be faster and is ideal when the issue involves a clear error or oversight.
- Board of Veterans’ Appeals Review: This is the highest level of administrative appeal. You can choose a direct review (no new evidence), submit additional evidence, or request a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge to argue your case.
Our disability lawyers are proud to represent Tennessee veterans who have been denied, underrated, or overlooked by the VA. With a 96% success rate in the cases we take on, we’ve helped thousands of veterans nationwide finally secure the benefits they’ve earned through their service. We never charge upfront fees, and case evaluations are always free. Tell us about your situation to see how we can help.
Winning Your Appeal
Every year, thousands of veterans across Tennessee receive VA denials or low ratings – not because they don’t deserve benefits, but because the evidence in their file isn’t complete, clear, or connected in the way the VA requires. To approve a disability claim, the VA needs three essential elements that work together like building blocks:
- A Current Diagnosis: You must have a confirmed medical diagnosis from a licensed healthcare provider showing that you are currently living with the condition.
- An In-Service Event: There must be credible evidence that something happened during your military service that caused or aggravated your condition. This can include medical or personnel records, deployment logs, or even buddy statements from fellow service members.
- The Nexus: A doctor or other qualified expert must provide a medical opinion stating that your condition is at least as likely as not related to the in-service event. This connection, known as the nexus, is often the most critical part of a successful claim.
Even when some of this information is submitted, the VA may still deny or undervalue your claim for reasons like:
- Lack of Service Connection: The VA doesn’t see enough evidence tying your condition to your time in uniform.
- Weak Medical Evidence: Your medical records may not show the full severity of your symptoms or how they limit your daily life and ability to work.
- Missed Deadlines: The VA’s timeline for submitting appeals and additional evidence is strict and missing even one can lead to a denial.
- VA Errors: VA reviewers sometimes overlook critical evidence, misread medical opinions, or apply the wrong legal standards.
It can be very frustrating and disheartening to get a VA denial, especially when your service connection is clear to you and your doctors. Our VA-accredited attorneys specialize in turning weak or incomplete claims into strong, evidence-driven appeals.
We work closely with medical experts to build powerful nexus opinions, collect missing records, and present your case in the way the VA expects to see it. We also ensure every form, statement, and piece of evidence meets the VA’s strict filing deadlines, so your rights are always protected.
Get a free case evaluation
VA Disability for Toxic Exposure
Tennessee is home to several military and defense installations, some of which have been investigated for contamination involving PFAS, solvents, fuel leaks, or industrial waste. These include Naval Air Station / NSA Mid‑South and Memphis Defense Depot (now decommissioned) near Memphis and Arnold Air Force Base in Manchester (Middle Tennessee).
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) recognizes that military bases are among the most significant sources of PFAS release into soil, air, and water in the state. But many exposure claims involve overlapping contaminants, as PFAS and chemical solvents like TCE often co-occur. Solvents used for aircraft maintenance, degreasing, or industrial cleaning can leak or evaporate into the surrounding environment and contaminate groundwater or soil. When these compounds combine with PFAS from firefighting foam, they make exposure linkage more complex (but not impossible to prove).
If you served at contaminated bases, in Tennessee or elsewhere, or worked in roles involving firefighting, maintenance, fuel handling, or aircraft operations, and you now suffer from cancer, thyroid disease, liver or kidney problems, immune dysfunction, or other chronic illnesses, you might have a valid toxic exposure claim. These claims typically require matching your service records with environmental data and expert medical opinions to bridge exposure to diagnosis.
If the VA refuses to acknowledge exposure, denies your claim, or undervalues your condition, you don’t have to accept that outcome. Our VA disability attorneys have experience with toxic exposure cases in Tennessee and across the country, and we only get paid if we win your claim.
Legal Resources and Lawyers Near You
Memphis
Shelby County Veterans Services: 1060 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104 | Phone: (901) 222‑4237
Clarksville
Montgomery County Veterans Services: 350 Pageant Lane, Ste. 405, Clarksville, TN 37040 | Phone: (931) 553‑5173
Tennessee VA Facilities Providing Veteran Assistance
VA Service & Benefits Offices
- Tennessee Department of Veterans Services (State Office) – 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 13th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243 | Phone: (615) 741‑2345
- Maury County Veterans Services Office – 308 W 7th Street, Columbia, TN 38401 | Phone: (931) 375‑1510
- Kingsport County Veterans Service Office – 301 Louis Street, Kingsport, TN 37660 | Phone: (423) 246‑1545
- Cumberland County Veterans Service Office – 2 North Main Street, Crossville, TN 38555 | Phone: (931) 456‑0090
- Madison County Veterans Services – 311 North Parkway, Suite 311, Jackson, TN 38305 | Phone: (731) 660‑6221
- Monroe County Veterans Services Office – 403 Tellico Street, Madisonville, TN 37354 | Phone: (423) 442‑5812
- Cocke County Veterans Service Office – 360 East Main Street, Suite 141, Newport, TN 37821 | Phone: (423) 623‑7911
- Franklin County Veterans Service Officer – 839 Dinah Shore Boulevard, Winchester, TN 37398 | Phone: (931) 967‑9322
Tennessee Vet Centers
- Memphis Vet Center – 2605 Nonconnah Boulevard, Suite 160, Memphis, TN 38132 | Phone: (901) 522‑3950
- Nashville Vet Center – 2501 McGavock Pike, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37214 | Phone: (615) 883‑2333
- Clarksville Vet Center – 141 Chesapeake Lane, Suite 101, Clarksville, TN 37040 | Phone: (931) 503‑2010
- Chattanooga Vet Center – 1300 Premier Drive, Suite 180, Chattanooga, TN 37421 | Phone: (423) 855‑6570
- Knoxville Vet Center – 1645 Downtown West Boulevard, Suite 28, Knoxville, TN 37919 | Phone: (865) 545‑4592
- Johnson City Vet Center – 154 West Springbrook Drive, Suite 5, Johnson City, TN 37604 | Phone: (423) 928‑8387
VA Medical centers
- Nashville VA Medical Center – 1310 24th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212 | Phone: (615) 327‑4751
- Alvin C. York VA Medical Center – 3400 Lebanon Pike, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 | Phone: (615) 867‑6000
- Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center (Memphis) – 116 North Pauline Street, Memphis, TN 38104 | Phone: (901) 523‑8990
VA Clinics
- Athens VA Clinic – 1320 Decatur Pike, Athens, TN 37303 | Phone: VA Health Connect
- Chattanooga VA Clinic – 6401 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421 | Phone: VA Health Connect
- Clarksville VA Clinic – 782 Weatherly Drive, Clarksville, TN 37043 | Phone: (931) 645‑3552
- Dalton Drive VA Clinic (Clarksville) – 2292 Dalton Drive, Suite F, Clarksville, TN 37043 | Phone: VA Health Connect
- Columbia VA Clinic – 800 South James Campbell Boulevard, Suite 100, Columbia, TN 38401 | Phone: VA Health Connect
- Cookeville VA Clinic – 851 South Willow Avenue, Suite 108, Cookeville, TN 38501 | Phone: VA Health Connect
- Dover VA Clinic – 1406 Donelson Parkway, Dover, TN 37058 | Phone: VA Health Connect
- Gallatin VA Clinic – 419 Steam Plant Road, Gallatin, TN 37066 | Phone: VA Health Connect
- William C. Tallent VA Outpatient Clinic – 8033 Ray Mears Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37919 | Phone: VA Health Connect
- Phelan Avenue VA Clinic (Memphis) – 575 Phelan Avenue, Memphis, TN 38126 | Phone: (901) 523‑8990
- Nonconnah Boulevard VA Clinic (Memphis) – 1689 Nonconnah Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38132 | Phone: (901) 523‑8990
Housing Assistance and Support for Veterans in the State of Tennessee
According to the 2024 Point‑in‑Time Count, 570 Tennessee veterans were experiencing homelessness in January 2024, a 24.9% decrease from 759 the year before. This progress is the result of coordination between VA, HUD, and local agencies working to get veterans off the street and into stable housing. But many more others could be at risk.
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency administers HUD‑VASH locally (veterans looking for help should contact their VA medical center’s homeless clinic or calling the national homeless veteran hotline). Additionally, the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program is providing case management and short‑term financial assistance for very low‑income veteran households facing housing instability or homelessness. Services may include utility help, moving costs, rental aid, and connections to VA and community benefits.
If your VA disability claim was denied or rated too low, leaving you without stable income, it becomes even harder to maintain housing. Our VA disability attorneys prioritize veterans who face housing insecurity or unemployment. Contact us for a free case review, with no upfront costs.