The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to take up a case that could drastically increase the benefits available to many veterans, as Military Times reported.

The case centers on whether veterans are eligible to receive education benefits from both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Department of Veterans Affairs has said that is “double dipping” in federal benefits, which is illegal. But lower courts have disagreed, saying they are two separate programs.

“Should we prevail, approximately 1.7 million post-9/11 veterans will be eligible to receive additional educational benefits totaling billions of dollars,” said two Troutman Pepper attorneys who have been handling the case. “This would be transformative for millions of veterans, their families and their communities.”

The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments this fall and issue a ruling in the spring.

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