If your VA claim was denied or rated too low, you’re far from alone. Many veterans find themselves stuck in a system that too often overlooks the full impact of military service on their physical and mental health. But your care and quality of life shouldn’t be decided by a flawed VA decision.
At Hill & Ponton, we specialize exclusively in VA disability law and our team treats every veteran with the respect and personal attention they deserve. Our sole mission is to help you overturn the unfavorable VA decision blocking your benefits. We start with a free review of your claim and only get paid if we win your case. No upfront costs, no strings attached.
Whether your condition began during service or developed years later, our attorneys understand how to connect your service history, symptoms, and medical evidence to build the strongest possible appeal. Every disability claim tells a different story. We’re here to help your voice be heard and your sacrifice rewarded.
Our Legal Services
- Disability Compensation: We ensure that all Tuskegee veterans we assist win the compensation they’re entitled to receive for service-connected conditions.
- VA Appeals: If your claim has been denied by the VA, we handle the appeals process, choosing the right legal strategy for your situation and managing every step on your behalf.
- Increased Compensation: If your service-connected condition has worsened over time or if you believe the VA underrated your claim, we can pursue a higher rating to ensure you receive the full monthly benefits you deserve.
- Survivor Benefits: If you’re the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a deceased veteran, you may qualify for DIC and other survivor benefits. We provide information about filing for these benefits and can appeal wrongful denials.
- Special Monthly Compensation: Veterans with severe disabilities who require assistance with daily living may qualify for extra compensation. We help win all types of SMC based on the need for Aid and Attendance, loss of use of limbs, mobility limitations, etc.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability: If your service-connected conditions prevent you from working full-time, even with a combined rating under 100%, you may still qualify for 100% compensation under TDIU.
How Much Is a Disability Rating Worth?
When you apply for VA disability benefits, the VA assigns a disability rating between 10% and 100%, in increments of 10%. This rating is meant to reflect how much your service-connected condition impacts your ability to function day to day. It directly determines the amount of monthly, tax-free compensation you’ll receive.
If you have more than one service-connected condition, the VA does not simply add the ratings together. Instead, it uses a combined ratings formula that weighs each condition based on how it affects your overall health and ability to work.
Below are the current monthly VA compensation amounts for a veteran living in Macon County, 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
If you have a spouse, children, or dependent parents, your monthly benefit will be higher. You can estimate your total compensation using our VA calculator.
In addition to monthly payments and other federal benefits, veterans also qualify for county and state-specific veterans benefits, such as property tax exemptions, educational assistance for dependents, and reduced long-term care costs through Alabama’s veterans homes.
Work with us to get your Benefits
Proving Toxic Exposure Claims
Veterans who served at military bases like Redstone Arsenal, Fort McClellan, Anniston Army Depot, Fort Novosel, Maxwell Air Force Base, or the nearby Fort Moore (Benning) across the Georgia border, may have been exposed to harmful substances during their military service. These bases have documented or suspected contamination involving PFAS from firefighting foam, TCE (trichloroethylene), PCBs, fuel spills, and other toxic industrial chemicals linked to serious long-term health problems.
Conditions tied to exposure at these sites can include kidney or testicular cancer, thyroid disease, autoimmune disorders, neurological issues, reproductive problems, and respiratory illnesses. But the VA has not granted presumptive status to Alabama bases, which means you will need to prove both the exposure and the medical connection between your current condition and your military service to qualify for disability compensation.
Because these cases rely heavily on historical evidence, scientific data, and medical opinions, toxic exposure claims can be difficult to win without strong documentation. That’s where legal representation becomes especially valuable.
At Hill & Ponton, we work with veterans across Macon County, Central Alabama and elsewhere in the nation to identify exposure history, gather medical evidence, and connect service-related exposure to current diagnoses. Even if your initial claim was denied, you may still obtain VA compensation with the right strategy. Contact us to review your case and build a successful appeal.
What Does It Take To Win Your Claim?
To approve your disability claim, the VA requires clear and specific evidence. For veterans dealing with complex cases or needing to prove toxic exposure from serving at contaminated military bases, getting that approval can be harder than expected. The VA looks for three key elements in every disability claim:
- A Current Medical Diagnosis: You must have a recent diagnosis of the condition you’re claiming, officially recorded in your VA or private medical records.
- An In-Service Event, Injury, or Illness: You need evidence that something happened during your military service that could have caused or worsened your condition. This could be an injury, exposure to hazardous materials, or the onset of symptoms while on duty.
- A Nexus (Medical Link): A medical professional must give an opinion connecting your current disability to that in-service event. This is often the most difficult part (and where having a skilled disability attorney makes a big difference).
When Do You Need a VA Disability Lawyer?
Your initial claim will typically start at the Macon County Veterans Service Office or with the help of local organizations. However, if the VA denies your claim or assigns a disability rating that doesn’t match the severity of your condition, it may be time to seek assistance from a VA-accredited attorney with years of experience in appeals.
Why Work with Hill & Ponton?
- We Know the VA System Inside and Out: VA disability law is complicated, and it changes often. Our disability attorneys focus solely on VA cases, staying current with legal updates and rule changes to ensure your appeal is built on a solid legal foundation.
- We Choose the Right Appeal Strategy: Whether your case calls for a Supplemental Claim, a Higher-Level Review, or a Board of Veterans’ Appeals hearing, we’ll help you understand your options and take the right step on time, and with the correct documentation.
- We Build Strong Appeals with Full Evidence: From obtaining your VA claims file to locating missing medical records or arranging for expert medical opinions, we carefully develop each case to support the benefits you’ve earned.
- We Fight for the Full Benefits You Deserve: You might qualify for more than you’ve been awarded. We pursue increased ratings, TDIU, and Special Monthly Compensation when appropriate.
Veterans who appeal with legal representation are statistically more likely to succeed than those who go it alone. At Hill & Ponton, we’re proud of our 96% success rate in the VA disability cases we handle in Alabama and across the country. If your claim was denied or underrated, we’re here to help you fight back. Contact our team to discuss your case.
Local Resources for Tuskegee Veterans
Macon County is home to a proud veteran population, with hundreds of local veterans receiving support through the Tuskegee VA Medical Center and regional service offices. While our firm provides legal representation to veterans in Tuskegee (as well as nearby areas like Montgomery, Auburn, Opelika, and Phenix City), many local resources are available through the VA and county-level organizations. These include full-service medical care, mental health services, housing support, and personalized claims assistance.
Veterans can access help directly at the Central Alabama VA Medical Center in Tuskegee, or through the Macon County Veterans Service Office, where staff assist with filing claims, managing paperwork, and navigating VA programs. Additional counseling and readjustment services are also available at the Montgomery Vet Center, less than an hour away. These resources form a critical network of support for veterans across Central Alabama.
Macon County Veterans Service Office: 2400 Hospital Road, Building 2, Room 109, Tuskegee, AL 36083. County office helping veterans with VA claims, pensions, insurance, and burial benefits.
Central Alabama VA Medical Center – Tuskegee (East Campus): 2400 Hospital Road, Tuskegee, AL 36083. Full-service VA medical center offering primary care, mental health services, specialty care, women’s health, audiology, laboratory services, and disability compensation exams.
Montgomery Vet Center: 4405 Atlanta Highway, Suite B3, Montgomery, AL 36109. Offers free and confidential counseling services including PTSD treatment, MST support, grief counseling, and family services.
Housing Assistance and Support in Tuskegee and Macon County
The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) and the Central Alabama VA Health Care System are working together with community partners to help veterans at risk of homelessness, through programs such as HUD-VASH. The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program is also active in Macon County and nearby communities. It provides temporary financial aid to veterans at risk of losing their housing or who have already become homeless. That can include help with security deposits, utility bills, or short-term motel stays while veterans transition into permanent homes.
Support can be found at the Tuskegee Campus of the Central Alabama VA Medical Center, where veterans are connected to VA caseworkers and community agencies that focus on housing stability. But for disabled veterans needing long term financial assistance, disability benefits are essential – and an increase in compensation can make a world of difference.
If you’re struggling to maintain housing or employment and were denied the benefits that could help you regain your footing, Hill & Ponton can help. Our VA-accredited attorneys specialize in fighting wrongful claim denials and low disability ratings, with no cost to you until the case is won. Reach out for a free case evaluation.