MoD loses Gulf War Syndrome case
The Ministry of Defence today lost an appeal against a decision that former Parachute Regiment medical officer Shaun Rusling was a victim of an identifiable syndrome due to his service in the 1991 Gulf conflict.
The condition, which many veterans of the First Gulf War claim to suffer from, includes a wide range of symptoms and is believed to be caused by drugs and vaccinations given to soldiers to protect them against chemical or biological attacks
The MoD was hoping that the judge would overturn a ruling by a war pensions tribunal that said the syndrome does exist as a medical condition. The MoD denies that the collection of symptoms reported by servicemen adds up to any one syndrome although it does accept that some troops have suffered ill-health as a result of the war.
Mr Rusling’s lawyer, Mark McGee, told the BBC that the victory would make it easier for other Gulf War veterans to pursue their claims.
However in a statement after the hearing the MoD pointed out that despite the decision, the judgment did not find that Gulf War Syndrome exists.
‘The judge expresses no opinion on whether Gulf War Syndrome exists,’ it said.
Symptoms reported by soldiers include depression, eczema, fatigue, nausea and breathing problems.
