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Attorneys general

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul Secures Full Education Benefits for Decorated Veteran

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has hailed a significant decision by a regional office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which has recognized that Lt. Col. (Ret.) Paul Yoon, a decorated Army veteran, is entitled to receive full education benefits under both the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills. This decision comes after Raoul joined two bipartisan coalitions to support Yoon and his daughter. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in April 2024 that veterans who qualify under both GI Bills are entitled to a combined 48 months of education benefits, but the VA had been denying many veterans this right, including Yoon and his family.

Key Takeaways:

  • Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined two bipartisan coalitions to support Lt. Col. (Ret.) Paul Yoon, a decorated Army veteran, and his daughter in seeking full education benefits under both the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills.
  • The U.S. Supreme Court held in April 2024 that veterans who qualify under both GI Bills are entitled to a combined 48 months of education benefits.
  • However, the VA had been denying many veterans this right, forcing Raoul to join coalitions to advocate for their rights.
  • Raoul's efforts led to the VA agreeing in principle to provide Yoon with the full education benefits he is owed under both GI Bills.
  • Attorney General Raoul encourages eligible service members or veterans experiencing similar issues to call his office's Military and Veterans' Rights Helpline at 800-382-3000 for assistance.
  • The Illinois Attorney General's Military and Veterans Rights Bureau offers in-person or virtual presentations on service member employment rights, military veterans' assistance, and fraud and scams targeting veterans and their benefits.

Statistics:

  • 48 months: the combined education benefits period for Veterans who qualify under both the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills.
  • 51: the number of attorneys general who joined Raoul's coalition in filing amicus briefs before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
  • 24 years: the length of time Lt. Col. (Ret.) Paul Yoon served in the Army.
  • April 2024: the month the U.S. Supreme Court held that veterans who qualify under both GI Bills are entitled to a combined 48 months of education benefits.
  • March 2025 and June 2025: the months Raoul joined coalitions to file amicus briefs in support of Yoon and other veterans.
  • 800-382-3000: the phone number for the Illinois Attorney General's Military and Veterans' Rights Helpline.

Sources:

  • The office of the Illinois Attorney General
  • The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • The U.S. Supreme Court

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