A widow who claimed her husband died from cancer due to a high-fat diet developed during his service in World War II has lost her bid for a war pension.

The man served in the Army for more than five years from 1941.

He died at the age of 77 in 1989, from prostate cancer.

His widow said he developed the cancer as a result of increasing his intake of animal fat for a period of at least five years.

She claimed his poor diet was developed during his war service.

The Repatriation Commission disputed the claim, saying the former solider was a sick man who became emaciated after being advised to consume a low-fat diet in the 1950s.

It said the man's diet was a personal choice and not related to his war service.

The commission denied the widow's claim for a pension in February last year, and she appealed the decision.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal has now backed the commission, saying there is no evidence that eating fat is habit forming.

It said the veteran was not compelled to eat animal fat after being discharged as a result of his service.

The tribunal has confirmed the earlier decision to deny the widow a pension.