Cigarette smoking

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, 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 September 2011.

Investigative Documents

Preliminary questions [25188]

5803     the veteran has ever smoked cigarettes.

25338  the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and VEA service for intervertebral disc prolapse.

25339   the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and VEA service for the clinical onset of intervertebral disc prolapse.

25341  the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and operational service for the clinical onset of intervertebral disc prolapse.

or

25342  the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and eligible service for the clinical onset of intervertebral disc prolapse.

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.

25340   the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and VEA service for the clinical worsening of intervertebral disc prolapse.

25343  the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and operational service for the clinical worsening of intervertebral disc prolapse.

or

25344  the veteran has established the causal connection between the cigarette smoking and eligible service for the clinical worsening of intervertebral disc prolapse.

Clinical onset and operational service [25341]

38481  the veteran smoked at least ten cigarettes per day for a continuous period of at least one year before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

38485 where the veteran's cigarette smoking has ceased or been reduced below ten cigarettes per day, the clinical onset of the condition under consideration has occurred within two years of that cessation or reduction.

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

Clinical onset and eligible service [25342]

38482  the veteran smoked at least ten cigarettes per day for a continuous period of at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

38486 where the veteran's cigarette smoking has ceased or been reduced below ten cigarettes per day, the clinical onset of the condition under consideration has occurred within one year of that cessation or reduction.

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

Clinical worsening and operational service [25343]

38483  the veteran smoked at least ten cigarettes per day for a continuous period of at least one year before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

38487 where the veteran's cigarette smoking has ceased or been reduced below ten cigarettes per day, the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration has occurred within two years of that cessation or reduction.

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

25347 the clinical onset of 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 [25344]

38484  the veteran smoked at least ten cigarettes per day for a continuous period of at least five years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

38488 where the veteran's cigarette smoking has ceased or been reduced below ten cigarettes per day, the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration has occurred within one year of that cessation or reduction.

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

25348 the clinical onset of condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the period or periods of cigarette smoking are causally related.