***Meryl*** FW: [INP_UK] Gulf troops applaud appeal ruling

[Guest guest]

Meryl, did you see this one from December 2002?

Love, light and peace,

Sue

" Do not judge your neighbour until you walk two moons in his moccasins " -

Cheyenne proverb

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> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2594635.stm

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> Gulf troops applaud appeal ruling

>

> Gulf war veterans have hailed as a " landmark " a ruling in favour of an

> ex-soldier who says his illness was caused by vaccinations.

> The case brought by Izett, 32, from Glasgow, who suffers from

> depression and osteoporosis, has been upheld by a pension appeals

> tribunal.

>

> Mr Izett received vaccinations against anthrax, whooping cough and plague

> prior to the Gulf War in 1991 but was stood down at the last

> moment and did

> not take part in the conflict.

>

> The National Gulf Veterans and Families Association says the ruling proves

> that vaccinations - not conditions in the battlefield - are to blame for

> many ex-service personnel's illnesses.

>

> Mr Izett's conditions worsened in the early 90s. In May 1996, he bought

> himself out of the Royal Engineers - in which he was a lance

> corporal - and

> became a lorry driver.

>

> To qualify for a regular army pension payment, he had to prove that his

> illnesses had been caused in service.

>

> The Ministry of Defence initially rejected his argument that the

> depression

> and osteoporosis had been triggered by the vaccinations.

>

> But the tribunal, sitting in Leeds, has now ruled in his favour.

>

> A medical examination of Mr Izett earlier this year showed a 54% bone loss

> from his skeletal structure.

>

> Roy Gibson, who represented him at the tribunal, said the outcome was

> " tremendous " .

>

> " For 11 years, the MoD and Veterans' Agency have denied that the vaccines

> caused any illnesses whatsoever, " he pointed out.

>

> Shaun Rusling, chairman of the National Gulf Veterans & Families

> Association, said he would be using the finding to back his own

> case at the

> High Court in February.

>

> Many of those who fought in the Gulf War have blamed subsequent

> illnesses on

> exposure to drugs, pesticides and burning oil fires.

>

> They insist their symptoms add up to a " Gulf War Syndrome " but

> the Ministry

> of Defence has denied the existance of such a condition.

>

> An MoD spokeswoman sought to play down the significance of the finding.

>

> She said the department did not comment on individual cases but added:

> " Rulings of this kind are not necessarily unusual.

>

> " A war pension can be awarded to an individual as long as a

> casual link can

> be proved between their service and their illness. "

>