Statement of Principles concerning Buerger's disease No. 73 of 1995 (Cth)

Instrument No.73 of 1995

Statement of Principles

concerning

BUERGER'S DISEASE

(THROMBOANGIITIS OBLITERANS)

ICD CODE: 443.1

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
subsection 196B(2)

1.         Being of the view that there is sound medical-scientific evidence that indicates that Buerger's disease and death from Buerger's disease can be related to operational service rendered by veterans, peacekeeping service rendered by members of Peacekeeping forces and hazardous service rendered by members of the Forces, the Repatriation Medical Authority determines, under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act1986, that the factors that must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting Buerger's disease or death from Buerger's disease with the circumstances of that service, are:

(a)       smoking 20 cigarettes per day or its equivalent in tobacco products, for at least three years before the clinical onset of Buerger's disease; or

(b)       smoking for three pack years before the clinical worsening of Buerger's disease; or

(c)       inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for Buerger's disease.

2.         Subject to clause 3 (below) at least one of the factors set out in paragraphs 1(a) to 1(c) must be related to any service rendered by a person.

3.         The factors set out in paragraphs 1(b) to 1(c) apply only where:

(a)       the person’s Buerger's disease was contracted prior to a period, or part of a period, of service to which the factor is related; and

(b)       the relationship suggested between the Buerger's disease and the particular service of a person is a relationship set out in paragraph 8(1)(e), 9(1)(e), 70(5)(d), or 70(5A)(d) of the Act.

4.         For the purposes of this Statement of Principles:

“Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans)” means a nonatherosclerotic, segmental, inflammatory, occlusive vascular disease affecting the small and medium-sized arteries and veins, attracting ICD code 443.1;

“ICD code” means a number assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in the tenth edition of the International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision, effective date of 1 October 1993, copyrighted by the US Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities, and having the Library of Congress number 77-94472;

“pack years” means 7,300 cigarettes, or 7,300gms of pipe tobacco, or 1,460 cigars.

Dated this                   twentieth      day of              February       1995

The Common Seal of the    )

Repatriation Medical Authority                   )

was affixed to this instrument   )

in the presence of:   )

KEN DONALD

CHAIRMAN