Statement of Principles concerning frostbite (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 12 of 2018) (Cth)

Statement of Principles

concerning

FROSTBITE
(Balance of Probabilities)

(No. 12 of 2018)

The Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Statement of Principles under subsection 196B(3) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

Dated    22 December 2017

The Common Seal of the
Repatriation Medical Authority
was affixed to this instrument
at the direction of:

Professor Nicholas Saunders AO
Chairperson

Contents

1Name........................................................................................................................................... 3

2Commencement........................................................................................................................ 3

3Authority..................................................................................................................................... 3

4Revocation................................................................................................................................. 3

5Application................................................................................................................................. 3

6Definitions.................................................................................................................................. 3

7Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates............... 3

8Basis for determining the factors........................................................................................... 4

9Factors that must exist............................................................................................................. 4

10Relationship to service............................................................................................................. 4

11Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles. 4

Schedule 1 - Dictionary............................................................................................. 5

1Definitions.................................................................................................................................. 5

1. Name

This is the Statement of Principles concerning frostbite (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 12 of 2018).

1. Commencement

This instrument commences on 29 January 2018.

1. Authority

This instrument is made under subsection 196B(3) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

1. Revocation

The Statement of Principles concerning frostbite No. 24 of 2009, made under subsection 196B(3) of the VEA is revoked.

1. Application

This instrument applies to a claim to which section 120B of the VEA or section 339 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 applies.

1. Definitions

The terms defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument.

1. Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates

(1)This Statement of Principles is about frostbite and death from frostbite.

Meaning of frostbite

(2)For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, frostbite:

(a)means a thermal injury involving the freezing of skin, subcutaneous tissues or deep tissues; and

(b)excludes hypothermia and other cold injuries not associated with the freezing of tissues.

(3)While frostbite attracts ICD‑10‑AM code T33, T34 or T35, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of frostbite is that given in subsection (2).

(4)For subsection (3), a reference to an ICD-10-AM code is a reference to the code assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), Tenth Edition, effective date of 1 July 2017, copyrighted by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, ISBN 978-1-76007-296-4.

Death from frostbite

(5)For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, frostbite, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's frostbite.

Note: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

1. Basis for determining the factors

On the sound medical‑scientific evidence available, the Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that it is more probable than not that frostbite and death from frostbite can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans or members of the Forces under the VEA, or members under the MRCA.

Note: MRCA, relevant service and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

1. Factors that must exist

At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, frostbite or death from frostbite is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

(1)exposing the affected part of the body to freezing temperatures within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of frostbite;

(2)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for frostbite.

1. Relationship to service

(1)The existence in a person of any factor referred to in section 9, must be related to the relevant service rendered by the person.

(2)The factor set out in subsection 9(2) applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, frostbite where the person's frostbite was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service.

1. Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles

In this Statement of Principles:

(1)if a factor referred to in section 9 applies in relation to a person; and

(2)that factor refers to an injury or disease in respect of which a Statement of Principles has been determined under subsection 196B(3) of the VEA;

then the factors in that Statement of Principles apply in accordance with the terms of that Statement of Principles as in force from time to time.

Schedule 1 - Dictionary

Note: See Section 6

1. Definitions

In this instrument:

frostbite—see subsection 7(2).

MRCAmeans the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.

relevant service means:

(a)eligible war service (other than operational service) under the VEA;

(b)defence service (other than hazardous service and British nuclear test defence service) under the VEA; or

(c)peacetime service under the MRCA.

Note: MRCA and VEA are also defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

terminal event means the proximate or ultimate cause of death and includes the following:

(a) pneumonia;

(b) respiratory failure;

(c) cardiac arrest;

(d) circulatory failure; or

(e) cessation of brain function.

VEA means the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.