Types of injuries
Hearing Loss
You will no doubt have seen the ongoing publicity in the news, and on social media platforms, regarding claims by military personnel for hearing loss. The MOD has recently accepted that they had a duty of care towards personnel and the agreement reached in the High Court applies to those who served in regular or reserve armed forces since 1987.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can occur after someone has experienced a traumatic event. Exposure to combat situations can have a profound and deep-rooted negative effect on a person’s mental well-being and therefore it is not unsurprising that PTSD is more common in people who serve in the armed forces.
Skin Cancer
Occupational sun exposure is a well-studied risk factor for skin cancer development, either melanoma or non-melanoma, and there are some studies that indicate that military personnel may have a higher risk than the general population.
Amputations
Loss of one or both legs below knee includes loss of foot with loss of all or part of calcaneum(heel). loss of a finger or thumb means that amputation has taken place at the metacarpophalangeal joint, loss of a toe means that amputation has taken place at the metatarsophalangeal joint.
Burns
Awards for all burns include compensation for any residual scarring or pigmentation and take into account any skin grafting. Awards for deep second degree, third degree or full thickness burns include compensation for actual or expected metabolic or cardiovascular consequences.
Fractures and dislocations
An award for an injury in this table includes compensation for any expected consequential osteoarthritis, an award for dislocation includes ligament and other soft tissue damage not requiring operative treatment.
Injury, Wounds and Scarring
When applied to a limb injury the expression “complex injury” means that the injury affects all or most of the following structures: skin, subcutaneous tissues, muscle, bone, blood vessels and nerves.
Mental Disorders
In assessing functional limitation or restriction in accordance with article 5(6) account is to betaken of the claimant’s psychological, social and occupational function. Mental disorders must be diagnosed by a relevant accredited medical specialist.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
An award for an injury in this table includes compensation for any expected consequential osteoarthritis. An award for dislocation includes ligament and other soft tissue damage not requiring operative treatment.
Neurological Disorders, Including Spinal, Head or Brain Injuries
An award for brain injury in levels 1, 2 or 4 includes compensation for associated sexual dysfunction, incontinence of the bowel and bladder, and epilepsy. An award for a spinal injury including a spinal cord, conus medullaris or cauda equina injury,complete or partial, at any tariff level, includes compensation for associated sexual dysfunction and incontinence of the bowel and bladder.
Physical Disorders – Illnesses and Infectious Diseases
The next page relates to diseases and related physical health problems included in the World Health Organisation International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Mental and behavioural disorders and traumatic and accidental physical injuries are excluded.
Senses
The following rate tables show awards for loss of senses, including sight and hearing.