Cigarette smoking

Diabetes mellitus - Cigarette smoking Factor

This factor deals with the personal use of cigarettes, i.e. it does not include passive smoking.

If there is a history of cigarette smoking it will be necessary to obtain information about:

• the quantity smoked (either tailor-made cigarettes per day or hand-rolled cigarettes in ounces per week or a combination of both);
• when this took place; and
• the reasons for smoking.

The evidence gathered should be as complete and accurate as possible. Information already held in departmental files, e.g. in previous statements and clinical notes, should not be overlooked. Conflicting evidence should be resolved.

Before a causal link between a smoking habit and service may be established, consideration must be given to Repatriation Commission Guideline CM5030 - Guideline for claims assessors on smoking and alcohol related conditions and military service.

Last reviewed for CCPS 12 March 2008.

Investigative Documents

Preliminary questions [10528]

10548 the veteran has non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2).

5803     the veteran has ever smoked cigarettes.

10588  the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and VEA service for diabetes mellitus.

10589   the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and VEA service for the clinical onset of diabetes mellitus.

10591  the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and operational service for the clinical onset of diabetes mellitus.

or

10592  the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and eligible service for the clinical onset of diabetes mellitus.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

10590   the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and VEA service for the clinical worsening of diabetes mellitus.

10593  the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and operational service for the clinical worsening of diabetes mellitus.

or

10594  the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and eligible service for the clinical worsening of diabetes mellitus.

Clinical onset and operational service [10591]

10595 the veteran smoked at least 10 pack years of cigarettes before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and, where smoking had ceased, the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred within 10 years of cessation.

3116     the veteran has some period or periods of cigarette smoking that are causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [10592]

10596 the veteran smoked at least 10 pack years of cigarettes before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and, where smoking had ceased, the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred within 5 years of cessation.

3521     the veteran has some period or periods of cigarette smoking that are causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [10593]

10597 the veteran smoked at least 10 pack years of cigarettes before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration and, where smoking had ceased, the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration occurred within 10 years of cessation.

3116     the veteran has some period or periods of cigarette smoking that are causally related to operational service.

9188     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the period or periods of cigarette smoking are causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [10594]

10598 the veteran smoked at least 10 pack years of cigarettes before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration and, where smoking had ceased, the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration occurred within 5 years of cessation.

3521     the veteran has some period or periods of cigarette smoking that are causally related to eligible service.

9189     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the period or periods of cigarette smoking are causally related.