§ Sir L. Lyleasked the Minister of Pensions why, in many cases where a man has been down-graded and discharged from the Forces suffering from a particular disability, nervous or otherwise, his Department refuses to acknowledge that the disability is directly attributable to, or aggravated by, war service, even though in the first place the man was passed as Grade A1; and whether he will consider giving these ex-Servicemen the benefit of the doubt.
§ Sir W. WomersleyThe fact that a member's medical category was lowered during Service is regarded as raising a presumption that there is a causal relationship between disablement and service, but where the evidence clearly shows that the conditions of service have played no part in either the onset or development of the particular disability it cannot be medically certified that the resulting disablement is attributable to or aggravated by such service. My hon. Friend may be assured, however, that in all cases full weight is given to the medical category on enlistment, and that in considering entitlement to pension the benefit of any reasonable doubt is given to the claimant.