Gulf war veterans have hailed as a "landmark" a ruling in favour of an ex-soldier who says his illness was caused by vaccinations.

The case brought by Alex Izett, 32, from Glasgow, who suffers from depression and osteoporosis, has been upheld by a pension appeals tribunal.

Mr Izett received vaccinations against anthrax, whooping cough and plague prior to the Gulf War in 1991 but was stood down at the last moment and did not take part in the conflict.

The National Gulf Veterans and Families Association says the ruling proves that vaccinations - not conditions in the battlefield - are to blame for many ex-service personnel's illnesses.

 

A war pension can be awarded to an individual as long as a casual link can be proved between their service and their illness   Ministry of Defence

Mr Izett's conditions worsened in the early 90s. In May 1996, he bought himself out of the Royal Engineers - in which he was a lance corporal - and became a lorry driver.

To qualify for a regular army pension payment, he had to prove that his illnesses had been caused in service.

The Ministry of Defence initially rejected his argument that the depression and osteoporosis had been triggered by the vaccinations.

But the tribunal, sitting in Leeds, has now ruled in his favour.

Bone loss

A medical examination of Mr Izett earlier this year showed a 54% bone loss from his skeletal structure.

Roy Gibson, who represented him at the tribunal, said the outcome was "tremendous".

"For 11 years, the MoD and Veterans' Agency have denied that the vaccines caused any illnesses whatsoever," he pointed out.

 

Shaun Rusling: Using findings for own case

Shaun Rusling, chairman of the National Gulf Veterans & Families Association, said he would be using the finding to back his own case at the High Court in February.

Many of those who fought in the Gulf War have blamed subsequent illnesses on exposure to drugs, pesticides and burning oil fires.

They insist their symptoms add up to a "Gulf War Syndrome" but the Ministry of Defence has denied the existance of such a condition.

'Casual link'

An MoD spokeswoman sought to play down the significance of the finding.

She said the department did not comment on individual cases but added: "Rulings of this kind are not necessarily unusual.

"A war pension can be awarded to an individual as long as a casual link can be proved between their service and their illness."