🎖️ VALOR

Bruce Hartford’s Fight Against Agent Orange and the VA Disability System 

In this video, Vietnam veteran Bruce Hartford shares his journey from Army intelligence analyst to long-term VA healthcare patient, detailing the challenges of living with the lasting effects of Agent Orange exposure. Serving in Europe and later in Saigon from 1971 to 1972, Bruce’s work focused on analyzing and reporting interrogation results.    

Decades after leaving the Army, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer linked to his time in Vietnam. Treatment included surgery and difficult radiation therapy, followed by ongoing complications like voiding dysfunction, sleep apnea, and atrial fibrillation requiring a pacemaker. 

Navigating the VA disability system proved just as challenging, with his rating shifting multiple times over the years. While he praises the VA for providing free medical care and treating him respectfully, he also encountered policy disagreements, particularly over his radiation cystitis claim. Through persistence and the support of knowledgeable advocates, Bruce secured a higher rating and the benefits he needed.   

Bruce’s story shows the long shadow war can cast on a veteran’s health and the importance of staying engaged, seeking expert guidance, and fighting for the care and compensation earned through service. 

“I was really blessed that they [Hill & Ponton] took my case. They promised to be with me all the way and with all my claims, and that’s really encouraging,” he concludes.

⚖️ EXPERTS

Anxiety Disorders and VA Disability Ratings

Anxiety disorders can significantly impact veterans’ quality of life and ability to work, and service-connected cases may qualify for VA disability compensation.  

The VA rates anxiety under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders at 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%, depending on the severity of symptoms and their effect on occupational and social functioning. 

VA Rating Criteria 

• 100%: Total occupational and social impairment, with symptoms such as persistent delusions, grossly inappropriate behavior, or danger of self-harm. 

• 70%: Deficiencies in most areas, including work, family relations, judgment, and mood, due to symptoms like suicidal ideation, near-continuous panic or depression, and inability to maintain effective relationships. 

• 50%: Reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as frequent panic attacks, impaired judgment, or difficulty maintaining relationships. 

• 30%: Occasional decrease in work efficiency with symptoms like depressed mood, anxiety, and chronic sleep impairment. 

• 10%: Mild or transient symptoms controlled by medication or present only during significant stress. 

• 0%: Diagnosis without significant functional impairment. 

How to Strengthen Your Claim 

• Keep detailed records of anxiety symptoms, treatment, and daily impact. 

• Submit medical evidence, including in-service and post-service treatment records. 

• Obtain a nexus letter from a qualified provider linking your anxiety to service. 

• Provide personal and buddy statements describing how anxiety affects work, relationships, and daily life. 

When Ratings Aren’t Enough 

Veterans whose anxiety prevents them from maintaining substantially gainful employment may be eligible for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU), even without a 100% rating. Expert medical and vocational opinions can be critical in proving unemployability. 

Example Case 

A veteran with generalized anxiety disorder and depression increased her rating from 70% to 100% after medical evidence showed total occupational and social impairment. Consistent documentation, detailed VA exam findings, and personal testimony were key to winning the appeal. 

The Takeaway 

If your anxiety claim is denied or underrated, you can appeal. Substantial medical evidence, thorough documentation, and legal support can make the difference in securing the full benefits you deserve.

If you’re facing challenges with your claim and need assistance, reach out for a free case evaluation.

🦅SUPPORT

Attention: Join us every Tuesday at 1400 hours EST for a new Livestream with our legal team!

Join us to get your questions about VA disability law and the claims process answered by our legal team. Comments open 1 hour prior to the Livestream starting, so get there early to get your question in. We try to answer as many as we can!

Were You Exposed to “Forever Chemicals” in Your Water Supply?

PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are synthetic substances widely used in firefighting foams, water-resistant products, and industrial applications. These chemicals have been found in dangerously high concentrations in some water supplies, including on or near military bases. Learn if your military base was impacted using our Toxic Exposure Map.

Exposure to PFAS has been linked to severe health conditions, such as:

• Testicular Cancer

• Kidney Cancer

• Ulcerative Colitis

• Liver Cancer

If you or a loved one lived or worked in areas with PFAS contamination and have been diagnosed with any of these conditions, you may qualify for compensation.

Act now. Contact us today at (855) 494-1298 to learn more about your options or to begin your claim. You’ve served your country; let us serve you.

🗺️ TACTICS

How Veterans Can Overcome Mental Health Stigma and Win Their VA Claims

In this video, Hill & Ponton video producer Nate Fleming sits down with Hill & Ponton attorney Rachel Cheek to discuss why so many veterans hesitate to seek VA disability benefits for mental health conditions and how to build a strong claim when they are ready to file. 

Attorney Cheek explains that interplay of unfortunate cultural stigma, military norms around toughness, and personal feelings of shame or guilt often stop veterans from opening up about struggles like PTSD, depression, or anxiety. She stresses that PTSD claims require proof of a service-related stressor, but that mental health claims are not limited to PTSD. Conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other anxiety disorders can also be service-connected if symptoms began during service.   

The discussion covers the importance of evidence, from official service records to lay statements from people who knew the veteran before and after service, which can help fill gaps in documentation. Attorney Cheek also addresses common misconceptions, such as believing a condition must be severe or combat-related to qualify, emphasizing that any service-connected mental health condition deserves consideration under the VA’s obligation to care for veterans. 

Nate and attorney Cheek end by encouraging veterans to seek the benefits they have earned. They remind them that mental health challenges are just as valid as physical injuries and that the right documentation and advocacy can make all the difference in the claims process.

Need Help with an Appeal? Hill & Ponton is Here for You

At Hill & Ponton, we specialize in helping veterans navigate the VA appeals process to secure the benefits they rightfully deserve. Whether you're facing a denied claim, an appeal for a higher rating, or need assistance gathering critical evidence, our team is ready to advocate for you.

Use our VA Disability Calculator to see if your current rating aligns with your level of disability and explore potential increases based on any secondary conditions you may have. Calculate Your VA Disability Rating Now!