§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they reconcile the refusal to accept Gulf War Syndrome as a pensionable condition with the Army Personnel Centre's decision in the case of Douglas Robinson, a Gulf War veteran and former Sergeant Major in the Royal Military Police, whose application for a war pension, approved by the centre's medical adviser, was based on Dr R G Alexander's description of him as suffering from Gulf War Syndrome. [HL936]
§ Lord BachI believe my noble friend refers to Mr Douglas Robertson and his award of war pension by the Veterans Agency and I have answered this Question accordingly.
The overwhelming consensus of medical and scientific opinion is that there is no evidence to support the existence of a discrete medical disorder called "Gulf War Syndrome". Accordingly, this term is not used as a diagnostic label in respect of awards of war pension. However, this does not prevent Gulf veterans who are ill from getting a war pension. A war pension can be paid for any disablement provided a causal link to service is accepted.
The Veterans Agency noted that Mr Robertson's GP used the term "Gulf War Syndrome" to describe his medical condition. However, this label did not influence the outcome of his claim for a war pension. In accordance with standard practice the decision to award a war pension was based on case specific facts, the relevant standard of proof and contemporary medical understanding.