In Wilmington and across Delaware, many veterans depend on VA disability benefits to cover medical care, daily living costs, and support for their families. Yet far too often, claims are denied or underrated, especially when veterans lack the support and legal assistance to push back.
Hill & Ponton’s sole mission is to stand with disabled veterans who have been left navigating a complicated, often overwhelming VA system on their own. We recognize the sacrifices demanded of those who served (physical, emotional, and financial) and we are fully dedicated to ensuring that the VA honors those sacrifices with the disability benefits veterans have earned.
Unlike general practice firms, we don’t divide our attention between different legal areas. Every attorney, every case manager, every strategy we develop is entirely centered on representing disabled veterans. Because of that focus, we have an in-depth understanding of the VA appeals process and the unique challenges faced by American veterans.
We’ve represented thousands of veterans nationwide, and we’re proud to stand with Wilmington veterans seeking their rightful benefits. There’s no cost to get started and you don’t pay anything unless we win your case. Tell us about your claim, and let us put our experience to work for you.
Our Legal Services
- Disability Compensation: Our priority is winning the highest possible monthly compensation for every service-connected condition you have. If the VA previously denied your claim or paid you less than you’re entitled to, we work to correct the error and pursue any back pay you should have received.
- VA Disability Appeals: If the VA denied your claim, or if your rating doesn’t reflect the true severity of your disability, we can step in and take over the appeals process. We examine your entire VA file, identify mistakes or overlooked evidence, gather the medical documentation needed, and build a compelling legal argument to successfully challenge the initial rating decision.
- Increased Compensation: When symptoms worsen, many veterans become eligible for a higher disability rating. We carefully prepare your case and appeal with all the evidence needed to show the VA how your disability affects your daily life and ability to work.
- Special Monthly Compensation: Veterans with the most serious service-connected disabilities (such as the loss of use of limbs, blindness, or the need for continuous aid and attendance) may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation, which pays beyond standard VA disability compensation.
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability: If your service-connected conditions prevent you from holding a steady, full-time job, you may qualify for TDIU, which pays at the 100% disability rate even if your combined rating is lower. We use employment history, medical reports, and functional evidence to prove that your disabilities make substantial gainful employment impossible.
- DIC and Survivor Benefits: We also assist the families of Wilmington veterans. When a veteran passes away due to a service-connected condition, we fight on behalf of surviving spouses or other eligible dependents to secure Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and all the survivor benefits that may be available.
Disability Ratings and Compensation
Your VA disability rating determines not only the amount of monthly, tax-free compensation you receive but also how the VA acknowledges the real-world impact your service-connected condition has on your health, daily functioning, and ability to maintain employment.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs assigns ratings in increments of 10%, ranging from 10% to 100%. A higher rating means greater compensation, expanded access to federal and Delaware state benefits, and eligibility for additional programs designed to support severely disabled veterans.
Below are the current monthly disability payments for a veteran with no dependents. Veterans with spouses, children, or dependent parents qualify for higher payments and all rates are adjusted annually due to inflation.
- 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
Proving Toxic Exposure Claims
Many veterans now living in Wilmington and New Castle County served at bases (both in Delaware and across the country) where they were exposed to hazardous chemicals, burn pits, industrial solvents, or contaminated water. While the PACT Act expanded coverage and presumptions for certain exposures, successful claims still depend on strong medical documentation and a clear connection between your diagnosis and your service.
In and around Delaware, several military sites have documented or suspected contamination issues, particularly PFAS (“forever chemicals”), which have been linked to cancers and other disease. The contaminated sites include:
- New Castle Air National Guard Base (New Castle, DE) – Located only minutes from Wilmington, this base has been the subject of environmental assessments due to historic use of AFFF and other industrial chemicals. Although the full scope of contamination is still being evaluated, PFAS presence has been detected in multiple testing areas, putting service members at risk of exposure.
- Dover Air Force Base (Dover, DE) – Dover AFB has been identified by the Department of Defense and the EPA as a site with PFAS contamination, primarily from the use of firefighting foam (AFFF). Investigations have found PFOS and PFOA levels above acceptable thresholds in groundwater and soil. Veterans who served in firefighting, aircraft maintenance, or fuel operations may have had significant exposure.
- Aberdeen Proving Ground (MD) – Just southwest of Wilmington, APG has a long history of contamination involving chemical agents, solvents, heavy metals, and PFAS. The site is a major EPA Superfund location, and decades of weapons testing and disposal activities created substantial exposure risks for service members.
- Fort Dix / Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ) – Many Wilmington-area veterans trained at or passed through JBMDL. The installation has well-documented PFAS contamination, including some of the highest groundwater concentrations recorded among U.S. military bases. Additional solvents, fuels, and waste disposal chemicals contribute to the environmental burden.
Veterans who served at any of these installations, or at bases nationwide affected by burn pits, chemical releases, or contaminated drinking water, may now face health issues tied to their exposure. Our lawyers specialize in helping prove toxic exposure – even if your claim was denied in the past, the PACT Act and new environmental data could make you eligible today.
Meeting VA Requirements
Winning a VA disability claim depends on proving that military service is connected to the condition you’re living with today. The VA will not grant benefits unless your claim satisfies all three elements of service connection:
- Proof of a Current, Valid Disability – The VA requires a documented diagnosis from a qualified medical professional. It must be recent, specific, and clearly identify the condition you’re claiming. If the diagnosis is missing or vague, the VA will not consider the rest of the evidence.
- Evidence of Something That Happened During Service – Next, you must show that your disability can be traced back to an event, exposure, injury, or onset of symptoms during your time in uniform. This may involve service treatment records, duty logs, documentation of combat or training injuries, or reports of toxic exposure.
- A Medical Opinion Linking Your Condition to Service (Nexus) – This is a medical explanation (usually from an expert) stating that your disability is “at least as likely as not” connected to your service. A well-written nexus doesn’t just state an opinion; it explains why the link exists, referencing medical evidence, the veteran’s history, and scientific reasoning.
Disabled veterans often come to us after trying to navigate this system on their own, only to discover that the VA denied their claim because the evidence wasn’t presented in the precise way the VA requires. Our role as attorneys dedicated to VA disability law is to correct that and assist veterans in winning their claims.
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Why Choose Hill & Ponton?
Many veterans in Wilmington and the greater New Castle County area begin their VA disability claims on their own. But the VA appeals system is complex, filled with strict deadlines, specialized forms, and constantly shifting regulations that can easily cause veterans to make mistakes. When the VA issues a denial or assigns a rating that does not reflect the true severity of your condition, an experienced disability lawyer can help you win the appeal.
Hill & Ponton is a dedicated disability law firm specializing in VA law and our VA-accredited attorneys have helped thousands of veterans nationwide. We know how the VA evaluates evidence and how to successfully challenge rating decisions that fail to properly reflect your service-connected limitations. Here’s what we bring to Wilmington veterans:
- We Understand the VA System Inside and Out – Our team stays up-to-date on every legal change, policy update, and procedural requirement. Your appeal is crafted using the most current and effective legal strategies available, ensuring that nothing is overlooked and every opportunity to strengthen your case is used to your advantage.
- We Guide You on the Right Appeal Path – Whether your situation calls for a Supplemental Claim, a Higher-Level Review, or representation before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, we gather all relevant medical records, develop the evidence the VA needs, and present your case through a clear, thorough, and persuasive argument..
- We Shoulder the Entire Burden for You – From securing your C-File to coordinating independent medical opinions and nexus letters, to handling every communication with the VA, we take on the full legal and administrative weight of your appeal. You can focus on your health, your family and your stability while we handle the rest.
Local Resources for Veterans in Wilmington
The VA Wilmington Health Care System covers Northern (Wilmington and New Castle County) through Central and Southern Delaware and offers a large range of care and support options, from full hospital‑level care to local outpatient clinics and community‑based counseling and benefits assistance.
- Wilmington VA Medical Center: 1601 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19805. Phone: 302‑994‑2511
- Wilmington Vet Center: Provides readjustment counseling, PTSD and MST treatment, family and bereavement counseling, substance‑use support, community outreach, and help getting VA benefits. Address: 2710 Centerville Road, Suite 103, Wilmington, DE 19808. Phone: 302‑994‑1660
Veterans’ Housing Assistance and Support
Wilmington has one of the largest concentrations of veterans in Delaware and offers a strong network of VA-led, state-run, and nonprofit programs to help veterans find safe, stable housing and access the services they need. As Delaware’s main VA medical facility, the Wilmington VA Medical Center oversees all VA homeless veteran services statewide. The Homeless Veteran Care services include:
- Crisis intervention and outreach
- Housing navigation and case management
- Mental health and substance-use disorder referrals
- Transition support for veterans moving into stable housing
How Hill & Ponton Supports Wilmington Veterans Facing Housing Challenges
Our law firm prioritizes representing disabled veterans at risk of homelessness or unemployment, for whom our legal expertise makes the biggest impact. Many of the veterans we assist are seeking higher VA disability ratings or appealing wrongful denials so they can afford rent, utilities and basic living expenses. If your VA benefits are too low to meet your basic needs, or if your claim was denied, contact us for a free evaluation of your case.