The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in Bufkin v. Collins that federal appellate courts do not have to independently review how the Department of Veterans Affairs applies the benefit-of-the-doubt rule in disability claims. Instead, appellate courts should overturn the VA’s factual decisions only if they contain a clear error. The case involved veterans Joshua Bufkin and Norman Thornton, whose PTSD claims were denied despite closely balanced medical evidence. Writing for the majority, Justice Clarence Thomas said the VA’s expertise in evaluating medical evidence deserves judicial deference. The ruling raises the standard for veterans appealing disability decisions, making strong evidence during the initial claims process more important than ever.
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