🎖️ VALOR

How One Airborne Veteran Won His VA Benefits with Hill & Ponton’s Help

In this video, veteran Terry Nolley opens up about his nine years of military service, including two combat deployments with the 82nd Airborne, and the tough road he faced to get VA benefits for service-related health issues. After coming home from Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Terry began experiencing panic attacks, tremors, insomnia, and trouble concentrating. When he first reached out for help from an Army psychologist and the VA, he was brushed off, and his disability claim was denied. 

Years later, still struggling and hopeless, Terry turned to Hill & Ponton. We stepped in, took over his appeal, handled all the medical and legal coordination, and made sure he stayed informed every step of the way. That effort paid off, and he won his appeal, secured back pay, and got the benefits he had been wrongly denied, all at financial risk to him. 

Terry says our team treated him respectfully, fixed the VA’s mistakes, and provided him with the needed expert advocacy. His story proves that veterans denied benefits shouldn’t give up because, with the right help, the outcome can be very different. 

"I urge anybody that has been turned down to go ahead and contact Hill & Ponton," he concludes. 

⚖️ EXPERTS

Migraine VA Ratings: What Veterans Should Know 

Migraines can severely affect veterans’ quality of life and ability to work, and service-connected cases may qualify for VA disability compensation. VA rates migraines under Diagnostic Code 8100 at 0%, 10%, 30%, or 50%, based on frequency, severity, and economic impact. 

VA Rating Criteria 

• 50%: Persistent, completely prostrating, prolonged attacks producing severe economic inadaptability. 

• 30%: Prostrating attacks about once a month. 

• 10%: Prostrating attacks about once every two months. 

• 0%: Less frequent attacks. 

A “prostrating” migraine means you must lie down and cannot perform everyday activities. To get a 50% rating, you must show that your migraines are frequent, severe, and significantly disrupt your ability to work. 

How to Strengthen Your Claim 

• Keep a detailed log of migraine frequency, duration, and impact. 

• Submit medical evidence documenting severity and frequency. 

• Provide statements from employers, coworkers, or family on how migraines affect your work and daily life. 

When 50% Isn’t Enough 

Even though 50% is the maximum schedular rating for migraines, some veterans are still unable to maintain employment due to the severity of their condition. In these situations, Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) may be available on an extraschedular basis. A vocational expert can provide reports that help demonstrate how migraines prevent gainful employment. 

Example Case 

One veteran was awarded TDIU based solely on migraines, after demonstrating that he suffered up to six migraine attacks per week. The severity forced him to quit working entirely, and his Social Security Administration (SSA) records confirmed his disability due to migraines alone.  

The VA maintained his 50% migraine rating, but granted him TDIU on an extraschedular basis, recognizing that his condition made it impossible to maintain employment, even though migraine symptoms alone don’t meet standard schedular thresholds. 

Bottom Line 

If your migraines are underrated or your claim is denied, you can appeal. Proper documentation, medical support, and legal help can make the difference in securing the rating and 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

Why the VA Underrates Migraines and How Veterans Can Fight Back

In this video, Hill & Ponton video producer Nate Flemming talks with Hill & Ponton attorney Allison Reddick about the challenges veterans face when seeking fair VA disability ratings for migraines. Despite their severe impact, migraines max out at a 50% rating under Diagnostic Code 8100, which attorney Reddick says leaves many veterans undercompensated. She explains how the VA’s use of the term “prostrating,” meaning an attack so severe you must lie down, is vague and often leads to ratings that don’t fully reflect the disability’s true impact. 

Attorney Reddick also addresses the difficulty of qualifying for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (IU) with migraines alone, since they can’t meet the 60% threshold without additional conditions or extra-schedular consideration. She notes that getting IU in these cases often requires expert vocational opinions to prove the veteran can’t maintain employment.   

The conversation highlights how migraines frequently lead to secondary mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia, creating a vicious cycle of pain, poor sleep, and worsening symptoms that further affect a veteran’s ability to work. Attorney Reddick stresses that documenting these secondary conditions can be key to increasing overall benefits. 

They close by urging veterans to thoroughly document their migraine attacks, understand the VA’s rating system, and seek legal or professional help when needed. Migraines are far more than headaches and are a complex, life-altering condition that deserves greater recognition in the VA disability 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!