Oregon AG Joins Veterans’ Struggle to Secure Education Benefits Denied by Federal Agency

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has joined 51 other attorneys general to support the court appeal by two veterans, U.S. Army veteran Lieutenant Colonel Paul Yoon and U.S. Air Force veteran Colonel Toby Doran, who have been struggling to access education benefits to which they are rightfully entitled.

The bipartisan group of attorneys general filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in support of two military veterans and their families.

The brief argues that the veterans were unlawfully denied their full G.I. Bill education benefits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The veterans were denied crucial education benefits to which they are clearly entitled.

The amicus brief, meaning “friend of the court,” is available in particular circumstances to those with a strong interest in the outcome who can provide information or arguments to help the court reach a decision.

The AG brief argues that the VA has taken a restrictive interpretation of the G.I. Bills. Veterans who qualify under the Montgomery and Post-9/11 G.I. Bills are entitled to a full 48 months of education benefits.

The AGs say the VA ruling contradicts this, as confirmed in the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Rudisill v. McDonough.

Notwithstanding the clear precedents, the VA limited veterans’ benefits based on an erroneous reading of the ruling, which effectively deprived veterans and their families of critical educational opportunities.

Oregon AG Rayfield said, “No veteran who has served our country should be denied access to the education they’ve earned.”