Attorney General Dave Sunday has aligned with 52 other Attorneys General in a legal move supporting two military veterans denied full G.I. Bill education benefits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Virginia. The coalition submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
The brief highlights that U.S. Army veteran Lieutenant Colonel Paul Yoon and U.S. Air Force veteran Colonel Toby Doran, along with their families, were unjustly denied education benefits they are entitled to under the G.I. Bill. It contends that the Virginia VA is misapplying a recent Supreme Court ruling to restrict these benefits.
“This bipartisan coalition of every state Attorney General in the country is a proclamation that veterans will not be cheated out of what they are owed,” said Attorney General Sunday. He added, “As a proud veteran myself, my service and the benefits I received under the G.I. Bill enabled me to pursue an education, find a satisfying career, and provide for my family. The least we can do for veterans who sacrifice so much is make sure they receive that same access to education.”
The document asserts that the Virginia VA’s interpretation conflicts with the Supreme Court's decision in Rudisill v. McDonough, which affirmed that eligible veterans under both Montgomery and Post-9/11 G.I. Bills should receive 48 months of educational benefits. Despite this precedent, the Virginia VA allegedly continues to deny essential educational opportunities to veterans and their families.
Attorney General Sunday is joined by Attorneys General from all states and Washington D.C., as part of this federal appeals court initiative.