In Bufkin v. Collins, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that courts must defer to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) unless there is a clear error in its decisions. This weakens the long-standing
“benefit-of-the-doubt” rule, which previously helped veterans win cases when evidence was closely balanced. The ruling makes it harder for veterans to challenge VA denials, even when the evidence supporting their claims is nearly equal.
The case involved veterans Joshua Bufkin and Norman Thornton, who were denied PTSD benefits despite presenting substantial evidence. Under the old standard, such closely contested cases often
favored veterans, but the Court’s decision now requires overwhelming proof of a VA mistake before a denial can be overturned. This shift places a heavier burden on veterans seeking disability benefits.