VA is now implementing the Rudisill and Perkins decisions

Some veterans who were eligible for both the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) and Post-9/11 GI Bill may now qualify for additional education benefits they previously could not use.

Depending on your service history, you may be entitled to up to 48 months of combined education benefits—potentially 12 additional months. Veterans Affairs

Does this apply to me?

This is worth checking if you: Qualified for both the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty and Post-9/11 GI Bill

and especially if you previously gave up or “relinquished” your Montgomery GI Bill benefits in order to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

That old election may no longer prevent you from using additional MGIB entitlement. Benefits

What changed?

Previously, veterans eligible for both programs could be required to waive their Montgomery GI Bill eligibility in order to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and their Post-9/11 entitlement could be limited by how much Montgomery GI Bill entitlement remained.

That changed following two court decisions:

Rudisill v. McDonough addressed veterans with multiple qualifying periods of service.

Perkins v. Collins extended the issue to certain veterans who may qualify for both programs based on different portions of a single sufficiently long period of service. Benefits

What if I only had one period of active duty?

This is important.

VA's current guidance says that if you completed one qualifying period of active duty lasting 56 months or more, you may qualify for as much as 48 months of combined benefits if you're otherwise eligible for both MGIB-AD and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

That could mean up to 12 additional months.

If that single period was less than 56 months, VA says you remain limited to one education benefit and a maximum of 36 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement. Veterans Affairs

What if I reenlisted?

VA considers a reenlistment a separate period of active duty for this purpose.

An extension of an existing enlistment, however, is not considered a separate period. Veterans Affairs

Do I need to apply for a review?

Generally, no. VA no longer requires veterans to formally request a Rudisill review.

VA says it is updating its systems to automatically review veterans' education-benefit records and will either issue a decision or tell the veteran if additional information is required. VA News

VA is currently prioritizing veterans who: Have less than three months of education benefits remaining and Are currently enrolled in school or were enrolled within the previous six months. VA News

Why this matters

For an eligible veteran, this isn't a small administrative change.

Up to 12 additional months of GI Bill entitlement can mean another year of tuition assistance, housing benefits, books, or education and training.

And some veterans who were previously told they had exhausted their education benefits may now have additional entitlement available.

Verify It Yourself

VA — Rudisill and Perkins Education Benefit Guidance

VA — Montgomery GI Bill Eligibility and Additional Entitlement

VA — March 2026 GI Bill Announcement

VA implementation announcement: March 26, 2026

Last verified: October 6, 2026