Veterans may be leaving 12 months of GI Bill benefits on the table

Chris Elder, Staff Reporter • April 30, 2025

Michael Zuniga filling out a VA Form 22-1995

Military veterans qualify for an extra year of paid tuition, thanks to a Supreme Court ruling a year ago this month.

The Ruling in Rudisill v. McDonough gave many vets an additional 12 months of paid education benefits or a $1,200 refund of their Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) contribution. Those with multiple qualifying periods of service will receive up to 48 months of combined benefits under the MGIB and the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

At EvCC, the impact of this decision is still unfolding. Michael Zuniga, the school’s veteran education certifying official, noted, “Most student veterans haven’t even heard of Rudisill. I recommend everyone with multiple service periods just apply. The worst they’ll hear is no.”

Eligibility and application

Veterans who served at least two separate periods of active duty — qualifying them for both MGIB and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits — may now access a combined total of 48 months of education benefits. This is a significant increase from the previous cap of 36 months.

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Rudisill Decision Tree by the Veteran Affairs (Jax Delosreyes)

How to check your GI Bill eligibility and request a Rudisill review

Understand the Rudisill decision:
Visit the VA’s official Rudisill decision page to review eligibility criteria and implications of the ruling.

Submit VA Form 22-1995: Access the form online at VA Form 22-1995. When completing the form, ensure you select the option indicating your request is related to the Rudisill decision. In the remarks section, you may write: “Requesting Rudisill review for additional GI Bill eligibility based on multiple qualifying service periods.”

Seek assistance if needed: Contact the VA Education Call Center at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551), available Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT. A representative can guide you through checking your Certificates of Eligibility (COEs) and submitting the 22-1995 form.

Important considerations:

If your last education claim decision was on or after Aug. 15, 2018, the VA will automatically review your eligibility; no action is required.

If your last decision was before Aug. 15, 2018, you must submit VA Form 22-1995 to initiate a review.

The deadline to apply for a new expiration date recalculation is Oct. 1, 2030. After this date, standard delimiting date rules will apply.

It’s important to note that the MGIB provides a flat-rate monthly stipend for full-time enrollment, paid directly to the veteran. Unlike the Post-9/11 GI Bill, it does not include separate housing or book allowances and does not pay schools directly.

Additionally, the MGIB is not transferable to dependents. Only the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows for the transfer of unused benefits to spouses or children, and this must be done while the service member is still on active duty.

Challenges in implementation

Despite the ruling, the VA has faced criticism for its handling of the decision’s implementation. Many veterans report that their COEs have not been automatically updated, and information from VA representatives has been inconsistent.

“I haven’t seen a single student at Everett Community College receive an updated COE that reflects the Rudisill decision. Students are applying, but we’re still early in the process—and the VA hasn’t communicated much about what to expect,” Zuniga said.

The VA has not provided clear answers to several critical questions, including:

Why haven’t COEs been automatically updated to reflect Rudisill eligibility?

Why is the requirement to submit VA Form 22-1995 for a Rudisill review not more clearly communicated to eligible veterans?

Will veterans who have already separated from service ever be allowed to transfer unused education benefits to their dependents?

Is the VA currently tracking how many eligible veterans are receiving the full 48-month entitlement?

What steps are being taken to ensure consistent communication from VA representatives regarding Rudisill-related benefits?

“Unfortunately, it seems that we won’t be able to obtain a VA statement anytime soon,” Joseph Williams, a public affairs specialist with the Department of Veteran Affairs, wrote via email.

“To provide you with the most accurate and valuable information, we need further clarification from senior leadership on this matter, which… is not looking like they will address it any time soon.”

Looking ahead

While the Rudisill decision offers expanded opportunities for veterans, the path to accessing these benefits remains fraught with challenges. Veterans are encouraged to proactively seek information and assistance to ensure they receive the benefits they’ve earned.

For support, EvCC’s Veterans Resource Center is available to help navigate the application process. Additionally, veterans can reach out to the GI Bill hotline or visit the VA’s official website for more information.

Join the conversation

Have you received your extra GI Bill time under Rudisill? Still waiting? Denied without clear explanation?

We’re collecting testimonials for next year’s update to ensure accountability — and to help fellow veterans navigate the system.

Drop a comment, send a direct message or email [email protected] if you’re willing to share your story.

Review your eligibility:
Log in to va.gov or open the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Health and Benefits app.

Navigate to the “Education & Training” section to view your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

If your COE indicates only 36 months of entitlement, but you served under both GI Bills, you might be eligible for an additional 12 months.

About the Contributors

Chris Elder, Staff Reporter

What interests you about journalism? After serving 20 years in the Navy across multiple roles—from aircraft maintenance supervisor to detainee guard—I’ve seen how important it is to give people a voice. Journalism gives me the tools to tell real stories, especially from veterans and underserved communities, in a way that builds understanding and creates impact. What brought you to The Clipper? I joined The Clipper to develop my skills in reporting, editing and media production. It’s a hands-on opportunity to grow as a journalist while contributing to the college community. I also run Mil2Vet, a podcast focused on helping veterans share their stories and connect with resources—and The Clipper gives me a place to sharpen those skills in a different medium. When you aren’t doing things for The Clipper, what can you be found doing? When I’m not writing or recording, I’m running a hobby farm, managing rental properties or volunteering at my kids’ elementary school. My family and I are on a mission to visit every national park before the kids graduate—we’ve already knocked out a few this year. I also snowboard, mountain bike and get into woodworking whenever I can.

Jax Delosreyes, Graphics Editor

What interests you about journalism? The ability to persuade and offer information to the public has always been an interesting dilemma to me. Journalism uses media (newspapers, radio, social media, etc) in a way that allows people to access a plethora of information. Whether it’s as truthful as it can be or littered with bias, it’s often a small blip into what the current culture and environment is and gives us a way to look back on history through the lens of being a human. What is an issue or topic you are interested about? Positivity and finding human stories in the community. It’s often hard to find emphasis in the little things in life that make it interesting and fun day to day. Sometimes it’s nice to slow down and read something that gives you a chuckle or a smile. When you aren’t doing things for the Clipper, what can you be found doing? Outside of the Clipper, I can be found digitally drawing/animating, crafting something with clay or fabric, or slowly chipping away at stories I’ve been meaning to tell. When I’m not creating something, I like to play indie video games with friends like No Straight Roads (NSR), Slime Rancher, Lethal Company, ULTRAKILL, and recently Webfishing.