A former army bomb disposal expert has secured a six-figure compensation settlement from the Ministry of Defence after alleging that his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was not properly diagnosed or treated in a timely manner. The soldier, from Oxfordshire, who cannot be named for security reasons, served in conflict zones including the Gulf war, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
He underwent psychometric tests in 1998 and 1999, but was cleared by a senior army psychiatrist to continue serving, despite being asked to appear in a training video about PTSD. It was not until June 2004 that a civilian consultant psychiatrist formally diagnosed his condition. Two weeks later, he was involved in a car accident and suffered a severe breakdown, leading to his medical discharge from the army.
The soldier argued that the MoD's failure to diagnose and treat his PTSD earlier left him more vulnerable to future stress. Medical evidence indicated that his condition would not have deteriorated so severely had he received treatment when initial tests were conducted. The MoD initially contended that the claim was out of time, as the soldier had knowledge of his PTSD from the 1998 and 1999 tests. However, the soldier maintained that the three-year limitation period should run from the formal diagnosis in 2004.
The case was settled out of court, with liability split 40% to the MoD and 60% to the insurers covering the car accident. The soldier expressed hope that others suffering from PTSD would receive the treatment they need. His lawyer, Claire Roantree, highlighted the potential liability of military psychiatrists and officers when signs of PTSD appear, emphasising the MoD's duty of supervision and monitoring.
An MoD spokesman stated that compensation is paid where there is a proven legal liability, and that a negotiated settlement was agreed to the satisfaction of all parties following a meeting in July 2010.
