26.7.4 Summary

Previous Policy

Revised Policy

The member must have commenced smoking as a result of and during the time of their military service.

Any smoking history of the member both prior to and subsequent to commencing military service is an important consideration, as is the frequency of smoking. In circumstances where the member was a regular smoker prior to commencing military service, scrutiny should be given to the question of why it is claimed that the member’s service had any impact on their smoking. The fact a member smoked prior to service does not in itself preclude a potential liability for a smoking related condition eg. a condition or aggravation of a condition resulting from a service related increase in smoking.

The member must have become so habituated to smoking during their service that the member continued to smoke during and after service

The member’s military service must have had a significant effect on the habituation of the member’s smoking so that the member continued to smoke during and after service or for a sufficient number of years (irrespective of whether this smoking continued after service) for it to be considered that the service related smoking habit had the required connection to the claimed injury or disease.

The smoking was the direct cause of the illness that has been claimed.

There must be medical evidence which establishes the requisite connection between the claimed condition and smoking.

Any claims where the member commenced smoking after 1973 should be denied.

Not included. A member’s commencement of smoking after 1973 ought not be a basis for rejecting liability.