Statement of Principles concerning idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis No. 16 of 1998 (Cth)

Instrument No.16 of 1998

Determination

of

Statement of Principles

concerning

IDIOPATHIC FIBROSING ALVEOLITIS

ICD CODE: 516.3

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

1. This Statement of Principles is determined by the Repatriation Medical Authority under subsection 196B(3) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (the Act).

Kind of injury, disease or death

1. (a)       This Statement of Principles is about idiopathic fibrosing        alveolitis and death from idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis.

(b)       For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, “idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis” means a chronic diffuse interstitial lung disease of unknown origin, characterised pathologically by inflammation and fibrosis of the lung parenchyma, attracting ICD code 516.3.

Basis for determining the factors

1. On the sound medical-scientific evidence available, the Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that it is more probable than not that idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis and death from idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans or members of the Forces.

Factors that must be related to service

1. Subject to clause 6, the factor set out in the paragraph in clause 5 must be related to any relevant service rendered by the person.

Factors

1. The factors that must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis or death from idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis is connected with the circumstances of a person’s relevant service are:

(a)        inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis.

Factors that apply only to material contribution or aggravation

1. Paragraph 5(a) applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis where the person’s idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis was suffered or contracted before or during (but not arising out of) the person’s relevant service; paragraph 8(1)(e), 9(1)(e) or 70(5)(d) of the Act refers.

Other definitions

1. For the purposes of this Statement of Principles:

“ICD code” means a number assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in the Australian Version of The International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), effective date of 1 July 1996, copyrighted by the National Coding Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, and having ISBN 0 642 24447 2;

“relevant service” means:

(a)       eligible war service (other than operational service); or

(b)       defence service (other than hazardous service).

Dated this       Twenty-seventh         day of              March         1998

The Common Seal of the    )

Repatriation Medical Authority                   )

was affixed to this instrument   )

in the presence of   )

KEN DONALD

CHAIRMAN