Supreme Court Ruling on Veterans’ Disability Appeals:
Supreme Court Decision on Veterans’ Disability Claims
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled in Bufkin v. Collins that federal appeals courts do not have to independently review the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) use of the “benefit-of-the-doubt” rule in veterans’ disability claims. In a 7-2 decision, the Court said courts should defer to the VA’s expertise unless there is a “clear error.” This marks a major shift in how closely courts oversee veterans’ claims and emphasizes judicial respect for administrative decisions.
The Benefit-of-the-Doubt Rule and Its Importance
The VA’s “benefit-of-the-doubt” standard requires that when evidence is “approximately balanced” for and against a veteran’s claim, doubts must be resolved in the veteran’s favor. This protects veterans who often face incomplete or conflicting medical records. The article explains, “The rule serves as a crucial safeguard, recognizing that veterans should not be penalized for the ambiguous nature of medical evidence.”
Case Background and Court’s Reasoning
The cases of Joshua Bufkin and Norman Thornton, veterans with closely balanced evidence regarding PTSD claims, showed the challenge of applying the benefit-of-the-doubt rule. The Supreme Court majority, led by Justice Thomas, said appellate courts must “review factual determinations only for clear error,” stressing the VA’s “specialized knowledge” in medical matters. This raises the standard for veterans: they must prove “clear and significant error” rather than just balanced evidence to win appeals.
