Test case victory for Gulf War syndrome campaigners
A former serviceman has won what could become an important test case victory in campaigners attempts to prove the existence of Gulf War syndrome.
A war pensions appeal board has ruled that the osteoporosis suffered by Mr Alex Izett’s can be linked to the cocktail of injections that he received before the Gulf War.
Though in the event Mr Izett was not sent to the Gulf, he received the same medical preparation as the other soldiers.
He claims that he suffered a sudden deterioration in health, leading to brittle bone disease which left him unable to work.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “My bones started to deteriorate, I lost muscles, I had stomach problems, I had psychiatric problems. I am really depressed and I have also had two suicide attempts.”
The symptoms are the same that have been reported by other Gulf War veterans.
The MOD has said that it will not challenge the ruling, but has reiterated that it does not believe that Gulf War Syndrome exists. They claim that the case was lost on legal, not medical grounds.
This has however not satisfied campaigners, who view this ruling as an official recognition that their claims are genuine.
The Liberal Democrat MP Paul Tyle has said that he will be demanding a full statement from the Defense Minister in the House next week.
