Hunt and Repatriation Commission (Veterans' entitlements)

This matter concerned an appeal by Mr Hunt against a decision of the Veterans Review Board (VRB) which affirmed the Repatriation Commission's decision to deny his claim for war-caused conditions, specifically HNPP (Hereditary Neuropathy with liability to Pressure Palsies) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Mr Hunt had served in Vietnam between March 1969 and May 1970, working as a clerk in the cash office and performing duties that involved extensive use of an adding machine and wearing heavy webbing.

The legal issues before the Tribunal were whether Mr Hunt's HNPP and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome were "war-caused" within the meaning of the *Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986* (the Act). Specifically, the Tribunal had to determine if these conditions arose out of, or were attributable to, his eligible war service, or if they were contributed to in a material degree by, or aggravated by, that service, pursuant to sections 9(1)(b) and 9(1)(e) of the Act. The standard of proof required was that the Commission must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that there was no sufficient ground for determining the conditions were war-caused, unless a reasonable hypothesis connecting the conditions with his service was raised by the material before it, as per section 120 of the Act.

The Tribunal considered the evidence presented, including Mr Hunt's own testimony regarding his duties and the onset of his symptoms, and the opinion of Professor Chambers. While Professor Chambers did not believe Mr Hunt's webbing was relevant to his conditions, the Tribunal noted submissions that the use of the adding machine, wearing the webbing, and taking Dapsone could have brought on or aggravated the symptoms of HNPP. However, the Tribunal ultimately found that the material before it did not raise a reasonable hypothesis connecting Mr Hunt's conditions with his operational service.

Consequently, the Tribunal affirmed the reviewable decision of the VRB, finding that Mr Hunt's HNPP and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome were not established as war-caused conditions under the Act.