{"id":76872,"date":"2024-04-30T15:15:54","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T15:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/04\/30\/supreme-court-to-hear-another-major-veterans-benefits-case-this-fall\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T16:09:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:09:25","slug":"supreme-court-to-hear-another-major-veterans-benefits-case-this-fall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2024\/04\/30\/supreme-court-to-hear-another-major-veterans-benefits-case-this-fall\/","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court to hear another major veterans benefits case this fall"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Supreme Court <\/a>this fall will review the legal claim of two veterans denied medical benefits for what they insist were service-connected traumas, a case that could potentially expand benefits<\/a> for thousands of veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials from the high court on Monday announced they will take up Bufkin v McDonough<\/a>, which has been moving through the veterans and federal courts for the last four years. Justices will address the case in their next term, which starts this fall, and are expected to issue a ruling in early 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The case centers on Air Force veteran Joshua Bufkin, who served from 2005 to 2006, and Army veteran Norman Thornton, who served from 1988 to 1991. Both men were repeatedly denied medical benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, but say the decisions and appeals process have been improperly handled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Bufkin and Thornton sought medical care for post-traumatic stress disorder related to their military service, but failed to convince VA administrators they qualified for the benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\t