# 2020-224 Medical and Dental Care, Medical treatment, Spectrum of care

Case summary

F&R Date: 2021-09-20

The grievor, a high school-aged member of the Reserve Force, fell ill during a period of Class B (Cl B) service. He was hospitalized and diagnosed with a rare medical condition. The grievor was released from hospital on the same day his Cl B service ended. Following his release, the grievor suffered cognitive impairment and incurred significant expenses for diagnosis and treatment. In his grievance, he challenged the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) failure to provide medical treatment and sought to be reimbursed for those expenses.

The Initial Authority (IA) accepted the grievance in part. The IA noted that the grievor's illness is typically triggered by an infection and that the grievor had been participating in physically demanding training, which may have weakened his immune system. The IA accepted that military service contributed to the grievor's illness, but after noting that cognitive deficits are not normally associated with the grievor's illness, determined that the CAF would only reimburse the grievor for the costs associated with his physical rehabilitation.

The Committee found that the grievor's illness, including the cognitive deficits, was attributable to the performance of duty while on Cl B service. The Committee noted that the grievor's medical care was properly transitioned to civilian healthcare providers at the end of the Cl B service, but found that the grievor's treatment expenses should have been covered under the CAF spectrum of care. The Committee recommended that the CAF reimburse the grievor's out-of-pocket treatment expenses.