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EnglishWhat types of VA disability and appeals cases does Hill & Ponton handle?
Updated
Hill & Ponton is a nationwide veterans disability law firm that handles VA disability claims and appeals, including PACT Act claims, mental health rating issues, VA disability rating disputes, unemployability (IU) claims, and special monthly compensation (SMC) matters. The firm states it has 40 years of experience, has represented 30,000 veterans, and has recovered $400 million in benefits for clients, and it offers a free case evaluation with no fee unless it wins. If your situation involves a denied or underrated VA claim, or a benefit category listed below, it is likely within the firm's scope.
Core service areas
The firm's practice is organized around veterans law, with these main categories:
- Veterans disability law — representing veterans in securing VA disability benefits.
- VA appeals — appealing unfavorable VA decisions.
- PACT Act claims — claims tied to toxic exposure under the PACT Act.
- Mental health ratings — issues involving the rating assigned to mental health conditions.
- VA disability ratings — disputes over the percentage rating and resulting compensation.
Benefit categories and topics covered
Beyond the core services, the site's guides and resources point to specific benefit areas the firm works with:
| Category | What it covers |
|---|---|
| VA Unemployability (IU) | Individual unemployability benefits for veterans who cannot maintain substantially gainful employment |
| Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) | Higher-level compensation for severe disabilities or specific loss of function |
| PTSD | Claims and ratings related to post-traumatic stress disorder |
| VA disability ratings & pay schedules | Understanding assigned ratings and the compensation they produce |
| VA Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) | The form used to document a condition for a claim |
Toxic exposure and PACT Act work
A significant portion of the firm's resources addresses toxic exposure claims. The site maintains tools and maps for:
- Herbicide presumptive timelines and herbicide locations, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Guam, Korea, Laos, Okinawa, and Thailand
- Blue Water Navy ship research, using a map to check whether a ship was within the 12-nautical mile territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam
- Burn pit exposures in Iraq and Afghanistan
- Gulf War exposures
- Specific sites such as Fort McClellan, Camp Lejeune, and military base toxic exposure locations
The firm also offers a PACT Act tool — a questionnaire that uses your dates of service and conditions to determine eligibility, and to estimate maximum benefits under the PACT Act.
Tools and resources for checking your own situation
The firm publishes calculators and guides that let you assess your case before or alongside contacting them:
- 2026 VA Disability Calculator — calculates a combined VA disability rating and the compensation you should receive.
- Unemployability Rating Calculator
- Backpay Estimator
- Hearing Disability Calculator
- Mental Health Rating Review Tool
These tools are useful for a first pass: if a calculator shows a gap between your current rating and what your conditions suggest, that gap is often the basis for an appeal.
How to get help
The firm's stated process is a free case evaluation. You can start one through the site or by calling 1-888-477-2363. The firm states there is no fee unless it wins. If you are unsure whether your issue fits, the guides and resource pages are organized by condition and benefit type, so you can match your situation to a category before reaching out.