[Peace-discuss] gulf war illness

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

Veteran wins Gulf War ruling 
The High Court in London has upheld a ruling that a former soldier is 
entitled to a pension because he is suffering from a syndrome linked to his service 
in the 1991 Gulf War. 

Campaigners hope it will make it easier for other veterans who say their 
health has been wrecked to claim damages. 

But the judge has made it clear that the ruling does not mean official 
recognition of the generic concept of Gulf War Syndrome. Subsequent cases would have 
to be considered on their individual merits, he said. 

Mr Justice Newman decided on Friday to back a decision by a war pensions 
tribunal that former Parachute Regiment medical officer Shaun Rusling was the 
victim of an identifiable syndrome attributable to his service in the Gulf. 


I treated Iraqi casualties with more care and compassion than the MoD has 
treated me 
Shaun Rusling 
The decision had been challenged by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which does 
not accept the existence of any such syndrome. 
Initially, the War Pensions Agency had refused Mr Rusling a war pension. 

But that ruling was overturned at the subsequent tribunal, prompting the MoD 
to act. 

After the judgment, Mr Rusling said: "I am elated. It is a total vindication 
of all war veterans suffering from Gulf War syndrome." 

However, he criticised the MoD for repeatedly trying to block his claim. 

"How many times do you have to go before a court to prove the problems you 
have got from service for your country? 

"The treatment we have had is outrageous. I treated Iraqi casualties with 
more care and compassion than the MoD has treated me, and my fellow sufferers 
from the Gulf War." 

Many veterans of the 1991 Gulf War claim to suffer a range of symptoms which 
they say amounts to a "syndrome". 

Injections 

Depression, eczema, fatigue, nausea and breathing problems were among the 
symptoms they reported. 

They have identified several possible causes, with the most likely being 
injections against chemical weapons. 

The MoD disputes there is any one syndrome. Though it accepts some troops 
have suffered ill-health as a result of the war, it says factors such as exposure 
to depleted uranium and the smoke from burning oil wells cannot be ignored. 


It had turned down claims by victims for army pensions, until Mr Rusling won 
his appeal in May 2002. 
During the Gulf War, he served as an army medic in the Parachute Regiment, 
treating the Iraqi wounded at a field hospital inside the Saudi border. 

After coming home, he suffered chronic fatigue and was discharged on medical 
grounds in 1995. 

A year ago a pensions appeal tribunal cited Gulf War syndrome as the injury, 
wound or disease on which his case was based. 

The MoD appealed and the case went to the High Court. 

But in his ruling, Mr Justice Newman said he could find no basis upon which 
the tribunal's decision could be legally impugned. 

More claims 

Mr Rusling's lawyer Mark McGee said the victory may make it easier for other 
Gulf War veterans to pursue their claims. 

"All other Gulf veterans who say they are suffering from this condition will 
now be able to bring their claims to an appeals tribunal." 

But in a statement after the hearing the MoD pointed out that despite the 
decision, the judgment did not find that Gulf War Syndrome exists. 

"We accept that some Gulf veterans have become ill and that many veterans 
believe this ill-health is related to their Gulf experience. 

"There is no medical or scientific consensus about the causes of this 
ill-health. 

"The overwhelming consensus of medical and scientific opinion is that the 
symptoms reported by some Gulf veterans do not constitute a discrete medical 
disorder or syndrome." 

Four soldiers who fought in this year's conflict are threatening to sue the 
MoD because they say they share similar symptoms. 


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/2986898.stm

Published: 2003/06/13 09:11:12 GMT

© BBC MMIII