Cigarette smoking

Sinusitis - Cigarette smoking Factor

This factor deals with the personal use of cigarettes ie 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, eg 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 16 JULY 2003.

INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTS

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS [13218]

5803     the veteran has ever smoked cigarettes.

13209  the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and operational service for chronic sinusitis.

13210   the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and operational service for the clinical onset of chronic sinusitis.

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.

13211   the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and operational service for the clinical worsening of chronic sinusitis.

CLINICAL ONSET AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [13210]

13212 the veteran had smoked at least 1 pack year of cigarettes at the time of the clinical onset of chronic sinusitis.

13214 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran was smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day at the time of the clinical onset of chronic sinusitis.

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

CLINICAL WORSENING AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [13211]

13213 the veteran had smoked at least 1 pack year of cigarettes at the time of the clinical worsening of chronic sinusitis.

13215 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran was smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day at the time of the clinical worsening of chronic sinusitis.

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.