In a 7–2 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in Bufkin v. Collins that federal courts must now defer to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) unless a “clear error” is proven. This overturns the long-standing “benefit-of-the-doubt” principle, which had allowed veterans to win claims when evidence for and against them was equally balanced.
The case involved veterans Joshua Bufkin and Norman Thornton, both denied disability benefits for PTSD. They argued the previous rule should have applied, as their evidence was strong enough to meet that standard. The Court, however, raised the bar by requiring veterans to show overwhelming proof of VA mistakes to succeed.
The ruling limits judicial review, giving the VA more authority and narrowing courts’ ability to overturn its decisions. Advocates warn this will make it harder for veterans to secure disability benefits, especially in complex cases where medical records are disputed. Two justices dissented, saying the decision weakens protections meant to honor veterans’ sacrifices.
Looking forward, this decision is expected to reshape veterans’ benefits litigation nationwide. Lawmakers and advocacy groups may push for legislative fixes to restore the benefit-of-the-doubt rule, but until then, veterans face a tougher path in proving service-related claims.
