🎖️ VALOR

How to Reach 100% VA Disability Rating – 3 Key Tips from Our Attorneys

In this video, Nate, Hill & Ponton's video producer, and our attorneys, share three great strategies to help veterans reach a 100% VA disability rating.

Featuring insights from attorneys Carol Ponton, Rachel Cheek, and Matthew Hill, this video dives into examples like radiculopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and conditions such as diabetes and Parkinson’s. It also explores how filing for TDIU can provide benefits for veterans unable to work due to their disabilities.

Watch now to learn actionable tips that could help you maximize your VA benefits and ensure you're getting the rating you deserve!

⚖️ EXPERTS

4 Significant Military Events on Christmas Day

Christmas Day is often a time of rest and celebration for Americans, but for many military personnel throughout history, it's been a day marked by sacrifice and challenges. Here are four notable military events that took place on December 25.

1776: Washington Crosses the Delaware

In the winter of 1776, General George Washington's Continental Army faced defeat after defeat in the early stages of the American Revolution. Forced to retreat into Pennsylvania, morale was at an all-time low. To reignite hope and renew faith in the fight for independence, Washington planned a surprise attack on Hessian forces — German troops hired by the British — stationed in Trenton, New Jersey.

Late on Christmas night, Washington led his troops across the icy Delaware River, taking advantage of a looming winter storm and the enemy’s post-celebration fatigue. At dawn on December 26, 2,400 Continental soldiers launched their surprise attack. The Hessians, caught off guard, surrendered within 90 minutes. The victory at the Battle of Trenton was a turning point that lifted spirits and restored faith in the Revolutionary cause.

 1864: The First Battle of Fort Fisher

During the Civil War, Fort Fisher in North Carolina remained a critical Confederate stronghold, guarding the last open port on the Atlantic. On Christmas Eve 1864, the Union launched an attack to capture the fort, but the mission did not go as planned. A failed attempt to detonate a ship packed with explosives and an ineffective bombardment left the Confederate defenses mostly intact.

On Christmas Day, Union forces tried to land troops north of the fort, only to face heavy resistance. Ultimately, they were forced to retreat, marking a significant defeat for the Union. However, a second attempt in January 1865 succeeded, sealing off the Confederates’ access to vital supplies and hastening the end of the Civil War.

1972: Operation Linebacker II in North Vietnam

Christmas 1972 saw the U.S. in the middle of one of the most intense bombing campaigns of the Vietnam War. Operation Linebacker II, known as the "11 Days of Christmas," was President Richard Nixon's response to North Vietnam’s walkout from peace talks. The campaign involved continuous B-52 bombing raids from December 18 to 29, with Christmas Day being the only break in the airstrikes.

The heavy bombing ultimately forced North Vietnam back to the negotiating table, leading to the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973. While the U.S. formally ended its involvement in the war shortly thereafter, the last American troops wouldn’t leave Vietnam until 1975.

1896: The Birth of "Stars and Stripes Forever"

On Christmas Day in 1896, while aboard a ship returning from Europe, renowned composer John Philip Sousa conceived the iconic march, "Stars and Stripes Forever." A former leader of the U.S. Marine Band, Sousa composed the piece out of fondness for his country and his time with the band. The march became a lasting symbol of American patriotism and was designated as the national march of the United States in 1987.

These events remind us that while many of us celebrate the holiday, there are service members who have sacrificed their Christmases for the safety and freedom of others.

🦅SUPPORT

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Did Your Military Role Involve Firefighting or Exposure to Hazardous Materials?

For decades, military firefighters, maintenance crews, and personnel working near flight lines or fuel storage areas were frequently exposed to Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)—a firefighting tool containing PFAS, dangerous "forever chemicals." While essential for extinguishing fuel fires, AFFF is now linked to severe health conditions, including cancers and thyroid diseases.

Even if you didn’t handle AFFF directly, you may have been exposed through contaminated drinking water or proximity to areas where it was used. Veterans and their families are now learning about the long-term health risks tied to this exposure.

Common health conditions linked to AFFF exposure include:

• Testicular Cancer

• Kidney Cancer

• Liver Cancer

• Thyroid Disease (diagnosed 4+ years after exposure)

• Hyper/hypothyroidism (diagnosed 1+ years after exposure)

• Ulcerative Colitis

If you believe your service exposed you to AFFF or PFAS and you’ve experienced any of these conditions, don’t wait. Your military service and health matter, and we’re here to help you seek justice.

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 a Veteran Won Service Connection for Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis  

Note: All identifying details have been changed to protect privacy. This case is based on examples from the BVA database.

A veteran who served from November 1975 to November 1979 believed his psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis were caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Despite multiple denials, his persistence and strategic use of medical evidence ultimately led to a favorable decision from the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA).

After years of appeals, the BVA granted the veteran service connection for both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (secondary to psoriasis). This victory was achieved through a combination of credible testimony, compelling medical evidence, and a determination to fight through the complex VA process.

Why Was This Decision Made?

• Medical Expertise Linking the Conditions to Service: Medical experts provided detailed opinions connecting the veteran’s psoriasis to environmental toxins, including trichloroethylene (TCE) in Camp Lejeune’s water. They supported their conclusions with medical research and a review of the veteran’s symptoms over time. The veteran’s service records and testimony showed skin issues starting during service and continuing post-discharge. Medical professionals argued these were early signs of psoriasis.

• Credible Testimony:

  • The veteran consistently described his service at Camp Lejeune and the progression of his skin issues. His honesty and clarity strengthened his case.

• Thorough Medical Review:

  • Opinions from board-certified dermatologists and other specialists were key. They ruled out alternative explanations, such as smoking or family history, and determined that environmental exposure during service was at least as likely as not the cause.

• Persistence Through Denials:

  • The veteran faced multiple denials, as his conditions were not presumptively linked to service. By pursuing direct service connection, submitting additional evidence, and enduring remands for further evaluations, he built a strong case.

Tips for Pursuing Complex VA Claims

This case underscores several essential strategies for pursuing complex VA claims:

• Gather Strong Medical Evidence: Secure opinions from qualified specialists who can review your history and provide detailed explanations linking your condition to service.

• Document Symptoms Over Time: Keep thorough records of symptoms and treatments to establish continuity between your service and condition.

• Challenge Denials: Persistence is critical. Appeal decisions, provide new evidence, and consider expert opinions to strengthen your claim.

• Understand Service Connection Types: If your condition is not presumptively linked, pursue direct service connection by demonstrating a clear nexus to your time in service.

If you were denied the VA benefits you deserve, or if you believe your current disability rating does not accurately reflect your condition, we're here to help. Get in touch with our office today at (855) 494-1298.