Hunt and Repatriation Commission (Veterans' entitlements)

This matter concerned an appeal by Mr Hunt against a decision of the Veterans Review Board (VRB) regarding his entitlement to a war pension. Mr Hunt contended that his Hereditary Neuropathy with Pressure Palsy (HNPP) was a war-caused disease, either due to his wearing of webbing and use of an old adding machine, or his use of the antimalarial drug Dapsone during his operational service. He also argued that his Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was war-caused.

The primary legal issues before the Tribunal were whether Mr Hunt's HNPP was materially contributed to or aggravated by his service, and whether his Carpal Tunnel Syndrome constituted a war-caused injury. The Tribunal was required to assess the evidence, including expert medical opinions and Mr Hunt's own testimony, to determine if the alleged service-related activities or drug use had a causal link to his conditions.

The Tribunal reasoned that Mr Hunt's HNPP was aggravated by his service through the wearing of webbing, which involved carrying approximately 10 kilograms and jumping from trucks, and the repetitive, forceful use of an old-style adding machine for extended periods. Medical evidence suggested that these activities could exacerbate an underlying predisposition to nerve compression, consistent with HNPP. The Tribunal also found that Mr Hunt's Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was a war-caused injury. However, the Tribunal concluded that Mr Hunt did not suffer a war-caused injury or disease from his ingestion of Dapsone.

In light of these findings, the Tribunal set aside the VRB's decision. It substituted a new decision finding that Mr Hunt's HNPP was a war-caused disease due to aggravation by wearing webbing and using the adding machine, and that his Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was a war-caused injury. The claim relating to Dapsone was dismissed.