Delhi HC Rules: Lifestyle Disorder Label Insufficient to Deny Disability Pension

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In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has held that describing primary hypertension as a lifestyle disorder is not enough to deny disability pension to a retired Indian Air Force officer. The court emphasized that lifestyle varies from individual to individual, and medical boards must provide specific reasons for their conclusions. This judgment reverses the Centre's challenge to an order by the Armed Forces Tribunal, which ruled in favor of the officer's entitlement to disability pension for primary hypertension. The officer, who served for 37 years, five months, and four days, was discharged in March 2019. The Centre had argued that the officer's hypertension was a 'lifestyle related disorder' and not related to military service. However, the court noted that the medical board failed to provide supporting reasons for this conclusion. The court's decision underscores the importance of medical boards providing clear justifications for their findings, especially in cases where disability pensions are at stake.