Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/21-234_2b8e.pdf
Page Number: 4.0

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

1 

Opinion of the Court 

NOTICE:  This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the 
preliminary  print  of  the  United  States  Reports.  Readers  are  requested  to 
notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Court of the United States, Wash-
ington, D. C. 20543, of any typographical or other formal errors, in order that 
corrections may be made before the preliminary print goes to press. 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

_________________ 

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 BARRETT delivered the opinion of the Court. 
Veterans may claim benefits for disabilities connected to 
their military service subject to statutory and regulatory re-
quirements.  When  the  Department  of  Veterans  Affairs
(VA)  denies  a  benefits  claim,  that  decision  generally  be-
comes final after the veteran exhausts the opportunity for 
direct  appeal.    But  a  statutory  exception  permits  the  vet-
eran  to  seek  collateral  review  at  any  time  on  grounds  of 
“clear and unmistakable error.”  We must decide whether 
that exception allows relief from a VA decision applying an
agency regulation that, although unchallenged at the time,
is later deemed contrary to law.  We hold that it does not. 

I 
A 
“The  law  entitles  veterans  who  have  served  on  active 
duty  in  the  United  States  military  to  receive  benefits  for 
disabilities caused or aggravated by their military service.” 
Shinseki  v.  Sanders,  556  U. S.  396,  400  (2009);  see  38 
U. S. C. §1110.  A veteran seeking such benefits must first
file a claim with the VA.  §5101(a)(1)(A).  A regional office