A FORMER Army medic battling to win a 30-year fight for a war pension will have to wait until early next year for a final decision.

Leonard Griffiths attended a pensions tribunal hearing yesterday after a lengthy campaign.

But the case has now been adjourned until February.

As previously reported in the BEN, Mr Griffiths, aged 55, of Higher Fold, Leigh, served in the conflict in Aden.

He was discharged as medically unfit for service in 1966. Since 1970 he has been locked in a battle with the Government over his right to a war pension.

He has also been campaigning in a bid to pave the way for veterans of the Second World War, the Gulf War and other conflicts to try to make claims.

Medical evidence was presented to the tribunal in Old Trafford, Manchester, about conditions described by Mr Griffiths as "desert syndrome" or "shell shock".

He said: "I have constant tiredness, am short of breath and short-tempered. I still have flashbacks and terrible nightmares. It's rare that I get more than two hours sleep at any one time."

Mr Griffiths served with the Royal Pioneer Corps as a regimental medic in the conflict in Aden, which is now part of the republic of Yemen.

Despite the adjournment, Mr Griffiths was positive about the hearing.

He said: "I feel smashing and am confident that my long fight will all have been worth it in the end."

A spokesman for the Pensions Tribunal office said: "The hearing was adjourned at the request of the War Pensions Agency so that they can consider the issue of whether any possible payments should be backdated or not."