SUPREME COURT DROPS EARTH-SHAKING 7-2 DECISION

In the case of Bufkin v. Collins, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that courts must give strong deference to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) decisions unless a clear mistake is shown.

This decision weakens the long-standing benefit-of-the-doubt rule, which previously allowed veterans to win close cases when evidence was evenly split.

Veterans Joshua Bufkin and Norman Thornton had their PTSD claims denied, even though they presented evidence that was nearly balanced.

Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Neil Gorsuch dissented, expressing concern that the ruling could jeopardize fairness for veterans seeking benefits.

Veterans’ advocates warn that this change may lead to more rejected claims and are urging Congress to step in and strengthen legal protections for veterans.

The ruling represents a significant shift in how veteran disability claims are handled, raising concerns about the difficulty of proving eligibility under the new standard.

Ultimately, this decision could make it more challenging for veterans to receive the support they’ve rightfully earned through their service.