The London High Court has upheld a ruling that a former soldier, Shaun Rusling, is entitled to a pension because he has a syndrome linked to service in the 1991 Gulf War. Rusling's original appeal was turned down in 1994. That ruling was subsequently overturned by the War Pensions Tribunal, but the Ministry of Defence then lodged its own appeal. The ruling is considered significant because it challenges the ministry's contention that “the overwhelming consensus of medical and scientific opinion is that the symptoms reported by some Gulf veterans do not constitute a discrete medical disorder or syndrome.” Symptoms reported by veterans have included chronic fatigue, musculoskeletal problems and mood disorders.
![Figure](https://www.cmaj.ca/content/cmaj/169/7/702.2/F1.medium.gif)
Figure. Gulf War has had a lingering legacy Photo by: Canapress
Rusling was delighted with the June ruling, which he felt vindicated all veterans with the syndrome. Although his lawyer said the victory may make it easier for other veterans to pursue pension claims, the court said the ruling did not imply official recognition of the generic concept of Gulf War syndrome, and it emphasized that subsequent cases would have to be considered on their individual merits.
Canadian veterans of the conflict have faced similar problems. In a 1999 report, the Department of National Defence said there had been “a number of cases of people dealing with serious illnesses since the Gulf War period who felt abandoned while facing the complex world of disability pensions.” The report said pensions were eventually granted thanks to lobbying from veterans' groups such as the Royal Canadian Legion. — Cathel Kerr, Fife, Scotland