Supreme Court Expands GI Bill Benefits: Are You Eligible?
In a landmark ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that veterans who earned both the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits could receive up to 48 months of combined education benefits. It sounded like a major victory — and it was.
But many military retirees are now reporting a gut-punch: they’re being denied the extra benefits they believed were secured by the court’s decision.
So what’s really going on? And more importantly — what can you do about it?
The Supreme Court Ruling: A Quick Breakdown
The case — Rudisill v. McDonough — centered around a veteran who earned entitlement under both GI Bill programs due to his service during different periods. While the VA had been capping the total eligibility at 36 months, the court ruled that the law allows eligible veterans to use up to 48 months if they’ve earned both benefits.
In plain terms: If you paid into the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and later became eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you should be able to stack them — for a total of four years of benefits.
This should have been a game-changer for:
- Retirees seeking to retrain in civilian life
- Veterans returning to school for advanced degrees
- Career switchers needing more than 36 months of training
So Why Are Veterans Still Being Denied?
Here’s where the VA’s interpretation throws a wrench in things.
According to Military.com’s latest report, the VA is only applying the 48-month extension to veterans who had a break in service between the periods covered by each GI Bill.
This distinction means if you served continuously — say, 20 years active duty — and earned both benefits, the VA might still cap you at 36 months, despite the Supreme Court’s decision.
That’s right: a technicality about how you served could block you from getting benefits the highest court in the country just said you’re entitled to.
What You Can Do Right Now
If you’ve been denied the full 48 months after applying, don’t stop there.
Here’s what we recommend:
- Write to Your Congressional Representative
Pressure from lawmakers helped shape the original case. Their oversight can help fix uneven implementation.
- Request a Formal Decision Letter
Always get a written VA decision so you can appeal. Verbal denials mean nothing in court.
- File a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review
Mention the Rudisill v. McDonough decision and ask for reconsideration based on legal precedent.
- Contact a VA-Accredited Attorney or Veterans Law Firm
Organizations like NVLSP or private firms are already exploring legal options for affected veterans.
Why This Matters So Much
Education is one of the most powerful tools veterans have when transitioning out of uniform — and it’s one of the few guaranteed benefits after service. Denying those final 12 months of eligibility doesn’t just hurt your bottom line — it undermines the core promise of both GI Bills.
It’s also a sobering reminder: Just because the law says something doesn’t mean the VA will interpret it in your favor. Veterans have to push back, advocate, and if necessary, litigate to claim what’s already theirs.
🔗 Resources to Learn More and Take Action:
- VA GI Bill (Homepage)
- Denied GI Bill After Supreme Court Ruling? Here’s What to Know — Military.com
If you’ve been denied your hard-earned GI Bill benefits despite this ruling, you’re not alone — and you’re not out of options. Let us know your experience, and we’ll keep fighting to expose where the system is falling short.
Want to share your GI Bill story with us?
Use our Contact Form — we’re listening.
Go outside VA for mental health treatment if you want to understand how little they can be trusted to do or even do at VA. Then you will understand the exclusive, political, and discriminatory system that is VHA. You don’t want the federal government to have certain information about you either… because of the fact that they have unlimited legal resources and immunity to do just about anything with that information. That’s the problem. It’s a failure of our political system in which the judiciary is supposed to correct certain problems that arise, and our representatives are supposed to be making laws that allow these institutions to function appropriately. Well that’s not happening.
I was in the US ARMY 1974 to 1977 will I be eligible for a new version of the GI BILL for a school purpose.
If you have been denied care or mistreated by the Veterans Healthcare Administration or Veterans Administration in general, you can now report that to the NY Times. Report the failure here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/us/politics/health-care-veterans-trump.html
Veterans Healthcare Administration..I call it the monster wreck or the big scam. Buddy of mine was 100% service connected for all sorts of things. He had lower back pain most likely from stenosis. He wanted to get surgery or something significant done. The doctor (protector of the scam) said, “You already get 100%, what more do you want?” (a diversion tactic.) Of course no diversion is needed because there’s no accountability for denial of care. The gaslighting and games aren’t even necessary. No need to try trick people in that manner and try to hide the fact that someone isn’t gonna get what they need done there that way. People aren’t completely brain dead although some could pass as brain dead for not walking out forever.
Have awards? Have combat service? Have PTSD? Get into a couple fights or go to jail for a good period of time. Then come back and see how they treat you. At that point, you’re a violent psychopath who shouldn’t even be at the Veterans Healthcare Administration. They’ll try to hide how they feel, that won’t last long. Your care is effectively over unless you just want to continue to give them information which they’ll use to degrade and devalue you.
Know a guy who got out of prison, they put him on ADHD medication and after he got arrested again tried to diagnose as “anti-social.” Well the medicine caused psychosis and he was hospitalized. One of the employees on in the mental health ward had been to prison before. So try to diagnose one guy as sociopath but hire a different guy who had been to prison before to watch him while locked up at VA. The employee gets a pass…no label for him…gets paid decent money to sit on ass and inform on the veteran for any bad behavior so they can assassinate character.
There could be an area with like 20,000 veterans and only maybe one or two psychologists or others available to actually work with people. That guy could be an asshole. Veterans could leave… they’d still keep the guy. He’d just have more time to fuck off if people left, and less obligation to stay in the office. This system of “can’t be sued, subordinated, or fired” has to end, or VHA in it’s current form must end.