The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bufkin v. Collins that federal appeals courts don’t have to recheck how the VA applies the “benefit-of-the-doubt” rule. In a 7–2 decision, the Court said judges should defer to the VA’s expertise unless there’s a clear error.
This means veterans appealing disability claims now face a tougher standard—showing balanced evidence isn’t enough; they must prove a serious mistake. The ruling could reduce successful appeals but highlights the importance of strong medical evidence from the start.
