Tribunal rules Gulf War Syndrome exists

Tuesday, 1 November 2005 12:00 AM

A former soldier has won his case to be awarded a Ministry of Defence (MoD) disability pension for Gulf War Syndrome (GWS).

The Pensions Appeal Tribunal said GWS was an "umbrella" term that could be used to describe the distinct set of symptoms suffered by Daniel Martin, 35, of Luton.

The former guardsman, who says he suffers from memory problems, asthma and anxiety, is one of thousands of Gulf war veterans who claim that the cocktail of inoculations given to soldiers to protect them against chemical attack have caused them to become ill.

Yesterday's ruling found that veterans sent to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in 1991 developed "an excess of symptomatic ill-health over and above that to be expected in the normal course of events".

"The term Gulf War Syndrome is the appropriate medical label to be attached to this excess of symptoms and a useful umbrella for that label," the tribunal said.

It added: "It is highly regrettable that there was such a delay in the Ministry of Defence accepting this approach."

Earlier this year, an independent inquiry under Lord Lloyd concluded that there was such a thing as GWS, and urged the MoD to start negotiations for payments to veterans.

The National Gulf Veterans and Families Association said 7,500 veterans have claimed for a disability pension. Of that figure, 1,500 claimed GWS but only two cases have been heard to date.

Lawyers for Mr Martin said this "landmark" case could help hundreds of other ex-servicemen.

Mark McGhee, of Linder Myers solicitors, said: "This is going to have massive implications for hundreds of Gulf war veterans, who clearly suffer from Gulf War Syndrome."

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