Marcari Russotto Spencer Balaban, Donald Marcari, MRSB Law Firm

We Represent Veterans Nationwide. Here Are Reviews From Just a Few Of Our Satisfied Clients:

Mary Trevino
Mary Trevino
December 30, 2023.
Marcari, Russotto, Spencer, Very outstanding law firm ,great communication, they stay be your side All the way to the end 👍👍👍👍👍
Maurice Monroe
Maurice Monroe
December 27, 2023.
Just wanted to give my opinion on this law firm. They are great if you are in need of help please turn to them. Vicki and the team over there are great, with this being my first time using a law office to help me and my family after our car accident I am very grateful and pleased with the outcome. Highly recommend!!!!
Eddie Pippen
Eddie Pippen
December 1, 2023.
I have used this group for the past several years. They have helped me with my veterans benefits. Dawson Rouse and Heather Dropp are both excellent and very knowledgeable with veterans benefits. Heather is the paralegal handling my case and has been highly motivated and is a high speed individual. She is a go getter and always thinks several steps ahead for veterans she is helping. You won’t go wrong with choosing them to handle your veterans benefits.
B. Cox
B. Cox
November 20, 2023.
The hits just keep on coming!!! I cannot express enough just how valuable and thorough the team of Dawson Rouse and Heather Dropp have been. Not only did they work tirelessly to ensure I received every bit of my 100% disability rating, but they went above and beyond to ensure I received every penny of compensation I was due, both presently, and backpay. My life has been changed all because I decided to call on MRSB to represent me after the VA had denied every single claim. I'm proud to not only call them my legal team, but also my family, which is EXACTLY what Heather and Dawson make you feel like. If there was an award for legal team of century, assuredly, Heather and Dawson would stand atop the podium!! DO NOT HESITATE!! CALL THEM AND LET THEM CHANGE YOUR LIFE TOO!!!
Roger Brown
Roger Brown
November 15, 2023.
After I was denied disability for hip replacement I had just about given up. I saw an ad for MRSB and decided I had nothing to lose. After talking to Heather Dropp (MRSB Paralegal), I was more confident something could be done. It’s taken a while, but, because of the effort by Heather and Guy Rouse, I have 30% disability for my hip replacement and they found other service connected issues we are filing claims for as well. A bit of advice…before you give up on your denied claim, give MRSB a chance to look into it. They’re very knowledgeable and they work for veterans. MRSB will give you 100%.
Mac
Mac
November 12, 2023.
Morgan and Dawson were very helpful and reassuring to my mother and I. They helped us through the appeal process and are still helping us. The firm truly cares about our veterans and the families. I highly recommend them to anyone needing help with a VA claim.
Robert Buszta
Robert Buszta
October 27, 2023.
I had a VA disability claim in the system for two-plus years. Since I filed my claim, I experienced errors, mistakes, duplication of mistakes and many delays from the VA. I contacted MRS&B. Their team worked with me and supported me and kept me abreast of the events to bring my claim to closure. They exceeded my expectations for support. Thank You Kristen, Morgan and Dawson for your efforts. This was a great team effort!

Depression Amongst Veterans

VA Disability Ratings for Veterans Who Suffer From Depression

Mental Health Conditions Often Plague Veterans, With Depression Being One of the Biggest Problems.​
Some studies suggest that the rate of major depressive disorder is 5x higher among Veterans than non-Veterans.

When military members leave the service and return to their civilian lives, they’re often met with the challenging task of feeling the way they did before enlisting. 

If depression interferes with your life after serving in the military, you are not alone, and help is available for you. At Veterans Benefits Law Firm, we strongly believe that no Veteran should be made to suffer because of wrongful denials or issues with paperwork. 

Our law firm proudly helps Veterans across the United States, and if you’re a Veteran who’s suffering from depression and needs help, call us now at (866) 866-VETS. 

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Claiming Depression as a VA Disability?

The Department of Veterans Affairs disability law works to provide disability payments to anyone who’ve developed a health condition due to their time spent in the military.  

Veterans may also qualify if their time spent serving also contributed to worsening a condition. 

As we know, not all Veterans are the same, which means that some will sadly get denied disability for depression, while other Veterans will receive a rating of 10%, 30%, 70% or even 100%. 

As you can see (below), it’s possible to receive $152.64 monthly for a 10% rating and over $3,000.0 a month for a 100% rating.

Unfortunately, depression is quite common among Veterans.

Recently, studies have indicated that not only is it common, but more so that the likelihood of depression was found to be five times more likely to occur in Veterans than non-Veterans.

Furthermore, conditions that are known to be common in Veterans like traumatic brain injuries and depression typically occur together, putting Veterans at risk of dealing with issues that will interfere with their ability to maintain a balanced quality of life.

Major Depressive Disorder and Secondary Service-Connected Impairments

Major depressive disorders will often occur in Veterans who’ve experienced long-term bouts of physical pain, which in turn, would make depression secondary to their physical impairment. 

For example, a Veteran that consistently suffers from chronic back pain as a result of their time spent serving in the military may develop severe depression when the pain begins to decrease their ability to maintain a fulfilling quality of life. 

Whether depression is listed as a primary or secondary, it’s incredibly important to include all your conditions on your claim when seeking disability for depression to increase your rating. 

If you have more than one mental health condition, the VA will more than likely award a single rating that compensates you for all mental health symptoms, rather than a separate evaluation for each diagnosed condition.

What's The Difference Between Total Disability Based Upon Individual Unemployability (TDIU) & An Extra-Schedular Disability Rating?

A Veteran must meet two requirements under a TDIU claim to be eligible for a 100 percent disability rating: They must have a service-connected disability with a 60% or more disability rating, or two or more service-connected disabilities with a combined rating of 70% or more AND/OR Medical evidence of unemployability. On the other hand, an extra-schedular rating applies to Veterans who are unemployable, due to their service-connected disability or disabilities, but whose disability does not meet the percentage requirements for any of the two aforementioned scenarios.

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Individual Unemployability and Depression

If you’re unable to work due to depression or any other mental health related issues or physical conditions, you may qualify for Individual Unemployability (IU or TDIU) benefits.

Veterans qualify for TDIU if they are found to be unable to maintain gainful employment due to a service-connected disability or a combination of service-connected disabilities.

If you have one disability that hinders you from being able to work, it must be rated at least 60% and if you have one service-connected condition, you must have a combined rating of 70% with at least one condition being rated at 40% or higher.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today!

If you, or someone you love, is having a tough time with the Department of Veterans Affairs and claiming the benefits needed to sustain a comfortable quality of life, do not wait another minute – contact us today! We are always available by phone at (866) 866-VETS.  

Our firm works on contingency, so there are no fees whatsoever unless we win your claim for benefits.  

We are accredited to stand for you anywhere within the United States, so even if you cannot make it to one of our many offices, we can still help you along the way. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does It Cost To Hire You?

It does not cost you anything to hire our Veterans Benefits Law Firm as your attorneys. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not owe us anything unless we win you an award. Our firm charges 20%, which is deducted by the VA from your lump sum payment for retroactive benefits.

How Long Will It Take To Appeal My Benefits Denial?

While it can take six months or more for a Veteran to receive a decision on his or her initial benefits claim from the Department of Veterans Affairs, appeals could take 2 years of more. The Department of Veterans Affairs lacks the funding to properly staff and process benefits applications. The number of applications from recently returning Veterans must be dealt with while the Department of Veterans Affairs continues to actively work towards providing services to prior generations of Veterans.

How Do I Increase My Disability Rating?

Great question! If the condition that you are actively receiving disability benefits for has now ultimately worsened over time, you can file an increased rating claim. It’s fairly simple, and it involves filing out an online claim form or mailing a letter to your regional office documenting the change in your condition.

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All communication with the Department of Veterans Affairs can be conducted remotely; personal appearances are not required. 

Our law firm is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist Veterans anywhere across the United States. 

Furthermore, our clients do not need to go to a physical location or visit an office to receive our help. If there are any medical visits that are applicable to your claim, you can be seen at a facility that is close to your home. So, no matter where you are, if you need help, we’re here to fight for you the same way that you bravely fought to protect us. 

Call us now! (866) 866-VETS.