Patterson and Repatriation Commission

[2005] AATA 1243

Administrative

Appeals

Tribunal

 

DECISION AND REASONS FOR DECISION [2005] AATA 1243

ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL      )

) Nos T2001/113 and T2001/182

VETERANS'  APPEALS  DIVISION		)
Re		SYDNEY JAMES PATTERSON

Applicant

And REPATRIATION COMMISSION

Respondent

DECISION

Tribunal Associate Professor B W Davis AM (Part-time Member)

Date16 December 2005

PlaceHobart

Decision

1.      The decision under review is set aside and in substitution thereof the Tribunal finds that the disabilities of:

Alcohol dependence or abuse

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

are war-caused within the meaning of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 and amendments.

2.      The matter is remitted to the Repatriation Commission for calculation of pension payable, the earliest date being 19 February 1999.

[Sgd B W Davis]

Part-Time Member

[2005] AATA 1243

ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL         )          T2001/113
  )          and
VETERANS’   APPEALS   DIVISION                  )          T2001/182

Re      :          SYDNEY JAMES PATTERSON
  Applicant

And    :          REPATRIATION COMMISSION
  Respondent

CORRIGENDUM

Tribunal        :          Assoc Prof B W Davis AM (Part-Time Member)

Date               :          4 January 2006

Place             :          Hobart

Decision:  Following a request for clarification, the decision of 16 December 2005 is varied to read as follows:

1.  Re T2001/113 the decision under review is set aside and in substitution thereof the Tribunal finds that the disabilities of:

Alcohol dependence or abuse
           Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

are war-caused within the meaning of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 and amendments

2.  Re T2001/182 the Tribunal affirms the VRB decision of 3 July 2001 that bilateral congenital hallux vulgas and osteoarthritis of both feet are war-caused disabilities within the meaning of Section 9 of the Act. No evidence has been submitted to demonstrate worsening of these disabilities since 2001, hence no increase in pension arises in respect of them

3.  Having considered all evidence before it and noting provisions in GARP (the Guide to Assessment of Rates of Veterans’ Pensions) the Tribunal has determined that the applicant should be paid disability pension at 100 per cent of the General Rate from 19 February 1999.  The case for payment at the Special Rate is not made out, but the matter is remitted to the Repatriation Commission for consideration.

[Sgd  Assoc Prof B W Davis]
   Part-Time Member

CATCHWORDS

Veterans' Entitlements - operational service - Vietnam - disability pension - bilateral congenital hallux valgus - osteoarthritis of both feet - alcohol dependence or abuse - post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - severe stressor - reasonable hypothesis - Statements of Principles (SoP) - Veterans' Review Board (VRB).

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 and Amendments – ss9, 13(1), 120(1) and (3), 120A

Repatriation Commission v Deledio [1998] 83 FCR 82

Bushell v Repatriation Commission [1992] 105 ALR 30; 175 CLR 408

Byrnes v Repatriation Commission [1993] 116 ALR 210

Stoddart v Repatriation Commission [2003] FCA 334; 74 ALD 336

Woodward v Repatriation  Commission [2003] FCA 160

Constable v Repatriation Commission [2005] FCA 928

Re Demczuk and Repatriation Commission [2005] AATA 1012 (12 October 2005)

Re Skewes and Repatriation Commission [2005] AATA 1026 (17 October 2005)

REASONS FOR DECISION

16 December 2005 Associate Professor…