Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/21-234_2b8e.pdf
Page Number: 19

Cite as:  596 U. S. ____ (2022) 

1 

GORSUCH, J., dissenting 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

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No. 21–234 
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KEVIN R. GEORGE, PETITIONER v. DENIS R. 
MCDONOUGH, SECRETARY OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS 

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF 
APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT 

[June 15, 2022]

 JUSTICE  GORSUCH,  with  whom  JUSTICE  BREYER  joins,
and with whom JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR joins as to all but Part
II–C, dissenting. 

A  young  recruit  to  the  United  States  Marines  left  the 
ranks after military doctors found his service aggravated a 
preexisting mental illness.  Eventually, he applied for ser-
vice-related benefits.  The Veterans Administration refused 
his application.  It turns out the agency did so based on a 
badly mistaken reading of the law.  On discovering the error
years later, the Marine petitioned the agency to revisit its 
decision.  Congress has expressly allowed veterans to do ex-
actly that, providing that they may “at any time” petition 
the agency to cure “clear and unmistakable error[s]” in its
past administrative decisions.  38 U. S. C. §§ 5109A, 7111.
Despite this statutory command, the agency refused to reo-
pen the case.  Today, the Court upholds the agency’s deci-
sion.  Respectfully, I would not. 

I 
When Kevin George enlisted in the Marines in 1975, doc-
tors conducted an entrance exam and found him fit to serve. 
But shortly after training began, he was hospitalized and 
diagnosed with an “Acute Schizophrenic Reaction” that oc-
curred  “[i]n  line  of  duty.”  Record  in  No.  16–2174