S2:E25 From Pain to Purpose - Rick Rousseau

This week Rick Rousseau joins me to discuss the topic of veteran claims. As a retired Army JAG Colonel, Rick Rousseau from Rousseau Legal Services in Texas joins us to discuss his experiences in representing veterans in the Veterans Affairs Claims Appeals process. He has represented thousands of veterans and surviving spouses as a VA accredited attorney. We also discuss some of the latest observations and challenges with claim sharks. Rick covers his his most recent yet favorite case where he got to notify a widow (since 1983) that she is entitled to DIC benefits. Rick served in various positions, including four times as a Staff Judge Advocate, including twice as the Staff Judge Advocate for Fort Hood. He served as a full-time law professor at The Judge Advocate General's (JAG) School in Charlottesville, Virginia where he taught estate planning, taxation, and veterans & survivor benefits. He deployed three times as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Rick was a partner in the Criss & Rousseau Law Firm in Harker Heights, Texas, from 2015 to July 2025. Following the appointment of his law partner and wife, Susan Criss, as an Associate District Court Judge in Bell County, Texas, the law firm was renamed Rousseau Legal Services. Rick’s practice focuses on Veteran’s benefits law. Rick earned his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Education (1982), from The University of Texas, Austin, Texas, Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) (1987) from South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, Master of Laws (LLM) in Taxation (1992) from the University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Master of Laws (LLM) in Military Law with a Specialty in Administrative & Civil Law (1997) from The Judge Advocate General’s School, U.S. Army, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Master of Arts (MA) in National Security and Strategic Studies (2011) from the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. Rick is also graduate of the Army Command & General Staff College and the Naval War College. For Rick’s complete bio: https://militaryveteranlaw.com/attorney/richard-w-rousseau