( CNN ) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs can not deny benefits to the wife of a lesbian military veteran , a U.S. district judge in California said in a ruling that in part cites this summer 's Supreme Court invalidation of a key Defense of Marriage Act section . The case involved former Army Sgt . Tracey Cooper-Harris , an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran who sued the department last year after it denied dependency benefits to her wife -- whom she legally married in California -- because the federal government did n't recognize same-sex marriages . While Cooper-Harris ' case moved through the court system , the Supreme Court in June rejected the part of DOMA that denied federal benefits to same-sex partners , even those legally married . That left Title 38 of the U.S. Code , parts of which ban veterans ' benefits for same-sex spouses . In Thursday 's ruling , Judge Consuelo B. Marshall , after noting the DOMA rejection , ruled that the government could n't use Title 38 to deny benefits to Cooper-Harris ' wife , Maggie Cooper . Marshall cited defense experts who argued veterans ' benefits are an essential promise to service members , helping retention and recruiting . Married same-sex couples gain equal tax benefits . `` The denial of benefits to spouses in same-sex marriages is not rationally related to any ... military purposes , '' the judge wrote . `` Additionally , Title 38 is not rationally related to the military 's commitment to caring for and providing for veteran families . '' Military to extend same-sex marriage benefits .
A lesbian couple sued the Department of Veterans Affairs last year . Former Army Sgt . Tracey Cooper-Harris wanted benefits for her wife . With DOMA 's ban invalidated , a judge rules Title 38 also ca n't block benefits . Judge : The denial is `` not rationally related '' to military purposes .