A former soldier who won a nine-year battle to have his illness recognised as Gulf war syndrome has claimed 50 similar cases were "covered up".

Shaun Rusling's suggestions come after he won a victory at a Pensions Appeals Tribunal, which overruled the Ministry of Defence's insistence that the syndrome does not exist.

Last week the tribunal expressed concern that the War Pensions Agency had erased any mention of Gulf war syndrome from Mr Rusling's file.

Mr Rusling said a memo obtained by the National Gulf Veterans and Families Association shows war pensions officials were told to ensure they made no reference to the syndrome when dealing with claims from former servicemen and women.

We are looking into whether these can be attributed solely or partly to service in the Gulf

MoD spokesman

He claimed the memo, headed Gulf War Claims, and dated 15 February 1995, says: "There are approximately 50 files outstanding where the conditions claimed refer to, or can be considered as, Gulf war/Desert storm syndrome.

"Owing to recent concern from Headquarters we have been asked to scrutinise these Gulf war claims to ensure that no reference is made to Gulf War Syndrome or Desert storm syndrome on any external correspondence."

Mr Rusling was a medic in the Territorial Army and filed a claim after returning from the Gulf and suffering rashes, numbness and other pains.

The 42-year-old from Hull said: "This shows that, way back in 1995, they were dismissing Gulf war syndrome without knowing the facts.

Careful wording

"They obviously had 50 cases they knew about but then decided to erase all mention of the syndrome because they were worried about the financial implications."

The Ministry of Defence said it had nothing to hide and insisted that the 1995 memo reflected current policy.

A spokesman said: "All that memo does is point out our policy over the language.

"We don't refer to Gulf war syndrome. That would suggest it is a proven condition that comes from the Gulf.

"We recognise there are a number of illnesses that have been contracted but we are looking into whether these can be attributed solely or partly to service in the Gulf."

He said the MoD was still considering the implications of last week's tribunal ruling.