Smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease - Smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products Factor

This is the only smoking factor in CCPS as the specific smoking requirements for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease are incompatible with the smoking module. If considering this factor, you will be required to combine all types of smoking (Cigarette smoking, Cigar smoking and Pipe smoking) to calculate the quantity of tobacco products smoked during the relevant period. This factor also provides the appropriate questions for considering material contribution by VEA service to the veteran’s smoking history, in accordance with the FC decision in Kattenberg.

Cigarette smoking

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.

Cigar smoking

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

• the quantity smoked (the number of cigars smoked per week);
• 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.

Pipe smoking

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

• the quantity smoked (ascertain tobacco smoked per week in grams or ounces; 1 ounce = 28 grams);
• 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.

NB  The SOP factor dealing with pipe smoking covers only the smoking of tobacco.  It does not include non-tobacco products such as marijuana or hashish.  This is because the RMA SOP factors refer to "cigarettes or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products".

Last reviewed for CCPS 18 July 2005.

Investigative Documents

Preliminary questions [34107]

30303 the veteran has smoked cigarettes, cigars or pipe tobacco at some time.

34110  the veteran has established the causal connection between the smoking of cigarettes or other tobacco products and VEA service for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

34111   the veteran has established the causal connection between the smoking of cigarettes or other tobacco products and VEA service for the clinical onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

34113  the veteran has established the causal connection between the smoking of cigarettes or other tobacco products and operational service for the clinical onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

or

34114  the veteran has established the causal connection between the smoking of cigarettes or other tobacco products and eligible service for the clinical onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

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.

34112   the veteran has established the causal connection between the smoking of cigarettes or other tobacco products and VEA service for the clinical worsening of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

34115  the veteran has established the causal connection between the smoking of cigarettes or other tobacco products and operational service for the clinical worsening of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

or

34116  the veteran has established the causal connection between the smoking of cigarettes or other tobacco products and eligible service for the clinical worsening of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Clinical onset and operational service [34113]

34131 the veteran smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products for a continuous period of at least six months immediately before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

34133 smoking as a causal result of operational service made a material contribution to the requirements of the Statement of Principles for the clinical onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Clinical onset and eligible service [34114]

34134 the veteran smoked at least 20 cigarettes per day or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products for a continuous period of at least six months immediately before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

34136 smoking as a causal result of eligible service made a material contribution to the requirements of the Statement of Principles for the clinical onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Clinical worsening and operational service [34115]

34137 the veteran smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products for a continuous period of at least six months immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

34222 the veteran's smoking of at least 10 cigarettes per day or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products for a continuous period of at least six months immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration took place after the clinical onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

34105 smoking as a causal result of operational service made a material contribution to the requirements of the Statement of Principles for the clinical worsening of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

33454 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the smoking is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [34116]

34140 the veteran smoked at least 20 cigarettes per day or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products for a continuous period of at least six months immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

34223 the veteran's smoking of at least 20 cigarettes per day or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products for a continuous period of at least six months immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration took place after the clinical onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

34106 smoking as a causal result of eligible service made a material contribution to the requirements of the Statement of Principles for the clinical worsening of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

33459 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the smoking is causally related.