Statement of Principles concerning ganglion (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 72 of 2016) (Cth)

Statement of Principles

concerning

GANGLION
(Balance of Probabilities)

(No. 72 of 2016)

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

Dated      26 August 2016

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

4Application................................................................................................................................. 3

5Definitions.................................................................................................................................. 3

6Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates............... 3

7Basis for determining the factors........................................................................................... 4

8Factor that must exist............................................................................................................... 4

9Relationship to service............................................................................................................. 4

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

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

1. Name

   This is the Statement of Principles concerning ganglion (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 72 of 2016).

2. Commencement

   This instrument commences on 26 September 2016.

3. Authority

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

4. 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.

5. Definitions

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

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

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

   Meaning of ganglion

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

   (a)a benign, cystic lesion overlying a joint or tendon, consisting of a thin fibrous capsule enclosing clear mucinous fluid which occurs commonly in the wrist and may be accompanied by pain, weakness and loss of function; and

   (b) excludes cyst of bursa, cyst of synovium and ganglion in yaws.

   (3)While ganglion attracts ICD‑10‑AM code M67.4, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of ganglion 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), Ninth Edition, effective date of 1 July 2015, copyrighted by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, ISBN 978‑1‑76007‑020‑5.

   Death from ganglion

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

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

7. 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 ganglion and death from ganglion can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans or members of the Forces under the VEA, or members under the MRCA.

   Note: relevant service is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

8. Factor that must exist

   The factor that must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, ganglion or death from ganglion is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service is inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for ganglion.

9. Relationship to service

   The existence in a person of the factor referred to in section 8, applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, ganglion where the person's ganglion was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service.

Schedule 1 - Dictionary

Note: See Section 5

1. Definitions

   In this instrument:

   ganglion—see subsection 6(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.