Brown and Repatriation Commission

[2004] AATA 1262

Administrative

Appeals

Tribunal

 

DECISION AND REASONS FOR DECISION [2004] AATA 1262

ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL      )

)          No Q2003/937

VETERANS APPEALS DIVISION		)
Re		BERNARD BROWN

Applicant

And REPATRIATION COMMISSION

Respondent

DECISION

Tribunal Mr SC Fisher, Member

Date30 November 2004   

PlaceBrisbane

Decision The Tribunal affirms the decision under review  

....................[Sgd].....................

SC Fisher
  Member

CATCHWORDS

VETERANS’ AFFAIRS – Veterans’ Entitlements – Application for review of decision of Veterans’ Review Board denying liability for post traumatic stress disorder – Whether Applicant suffers post traumatic stress disorder – Whether events were  “severe stressors” – Tribunal not required to consider condition of alcohol abuse / dependence – Applicant has depressive disorder but not war caused – Decision under review affirmed

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) ss 5B, 6-6F, 7, 9, 14,120, 120A, 174 -176, 180A, 196B, Schedule 2

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 45

Ajka Pty Ltd v Australian Fisheries Management Authority [2003] FCA 248; (2003) 74 ALD 21
Bramwell v Repatriation Commission (1998) 51 ALD 56
Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298
Blatch v Archer (1774) I Cowp 63; 98 ER 969
Russo v Aiello [2003] HCA 53
Stoddart v Repatriation Commission [2003] FCA 334; (2003) 74 ALD 366
Stonehouse v Repatriation Commission [2004]  AATA 707
White v Repatriation Commission [2004] FCA 633
Hillier v Repatriation Commission [2004] AATA 897
Schmidt v Repatriation Commission [2004] FCA 1158
Repatriation Commission v Stoddart [2003] FCAFC 300; (2003) 77 ALD 67
Repatriation Commission v Gorton (2001) 110 FCR 365; (2001) 65 ALD 609
Kattenberg v Repatriation Commission (2002) 73 ALD 365
Ahrens and Repatriation Commission [2004] AATA 943
Mines v Repatriation Commission [2004] FCA 1331
Woodward v Repatriation Commission [2004] FCAFC 160; (2003) 75 ALD 420
Tillmanns Butcheries Pty Ltd Australasian Meat Industry Employees’ Union (1979) 42 FLR 331
Gray v Repatriation Commission [2004] AATA 224

REASONS FOR DECISION

30 November 2004   Mr SC Fisher, Member    

Introduction and background

1.      On 23 January 2001, Mr Bernard J Brown (the Applicant) lodged a claim with the Repatriation Commission (the respondent) seeking acceptance by the respondent of liability for medical treatment and pension for incapacity of “nervous disorder, hearing loss and stomach upsets”.

2.      On 13 March 2001 the respondent determined the applicant’s claim to be a claim for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, depressive disorder and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. The respondent accepted the claim for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss but refused to accept liability for the gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and depressive disorder conditions on the ground that these conditions were not war-caused.

3.      On 23 May 2001, the applicant sought review of the respondent’s decision by the Veteran’s Review Board (VRB). By its decision dated 30 July 2003 (and notified to the applicant on 4 August 2003), the VRB added the diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The VRB accepted the gastro-oesophageal reflux disease as war-caused, but otherwise affirmed the decision of the respondent relating to the denial of liability for depressive disorder. The VRB denied liability…