THOUSANDS of ex-service men and women who have been denied a war pension for deafness could have their cases reconsidered in the light of new medical evidence.

Experts at a conference in Sydney suggested further research was needed to ensure the Government's assessment of hearing loss was fair.

Now, the Royal British Legion and Royal National Institute for Deaf People have requested copies of papers presented to send to ministers for discussion at a review panel meeting next month.

A £20,000 bid to fund further research was refused by the Minister, Baroness Hollis of Heigham, a year ago and the legion and the RNID are now planning a public appeal to raise money unless the Government has a change of heart.

The most recent Government statistics for 1997-98 show that fewer than 10 per cent of ex-service people claiming hearing loss receive a pension.

But only 291 claims out of 5,854 were rejected outright. The other 5,026 veterans were acknowledged to have suffered "measurable hearing loss", but failed to reach the qualifying level at the point of leaving the services.

To qualify for a pension under current rules, a veteran needs to be as deaf as a person of 90 whose hearing has deteriorated through ageing.

Ian Townsend, secretary general of the legion said: "The legion believes that the overall effect of service disablement should be the basis for determining entitlement to a war pension and that every condition should be compensated appropriately and fairly.

"Recent awards by civilian courts to police officers suffering hearing loss from service-related damage, including the use of firearms, have been very high. We are seeking the same recognition for war pensioners, many of whom have served their country in world wars and much more recent conflicts."

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