Statement of Principles concerning pulmonary thromboembolism No. 4 of 2001 (Cth)

Instrument No.4 of 2001

Determination

of

Statement of Principles

concerning

PULMONARY THROMBOEMBOLISM

ICD-10-AM CODE: I26

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 pulmonary thromboembolism and death from pulmonary thromboembolism.

(b)For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, “pulmonary thromboembolism” means obstruction of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches by a mass of clotted blood which has originated in the deep venous system, attracting ICD-10-AM code I26.

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 pulmonary thromboembolism and death from pulmonary thromboembolism 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, at least one of the factors set out 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, pulmonary thromboembolism or death from pulmonary thromboembolism are connected with the circumstances of a person’s relevant service are:

(a)       suffering from deep vein thrombosis within the 90 days immediately before the clinical onset of pulmonary thromboembolism; or

(b)suffering from venous thrombosis within the 90 days immediately before the clinical onset of pulmonary thromboembolism; or

(c)suffering from thrombus within the right atrium or right ventricle at the time of the clinical onset of pulmonary thromboembolism; or

(d)smoking at least 35 cigarettes per day or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products, for a period of at least 90 days before the clinical onset of pulmonary thromboembolism, and where smoking has ceased the clinical onset has occurred within 90 days of cessation; or

(e)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for pulmonary thromboembolism.

Factors that apply only to material contribution or aggravation

1. Paragraph 5(e) applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, pulmonary thromboembolism where the person’s pulmonary thromboembolism 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.

Inclusion of Statements of Principles

1. In this Statement of Principles if a relevant factor applies and that factor includes an injury or disease in respect of which there is a Statement of Principles then the factors in that last mentioned Statement of Principles apply in accordance with the terms of that Statement of Principles.

Other definitions

1. For the purposes of this Statement of Principles:

“death from pulmonary thromboembolism” in relation to a person includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person’s pulmonary thromboembolism;

“deep vein thrombosis” means an aggregation of blood factors, primarily platelets and fibrin with entrapment of cellular elements, present in the deep venous system, and causing vascular obstruction at the point of its formation, but excluding retinal, cerebral, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, portal and mesenteric thrombosis;

“ICD-10-AM code” means a number assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), Second Edition, effective date of 1 July 2000, copyrighted by the National Centre for Classification in Health, Sydney, NSW, and having ISBN 1 86487 271 3;

“relevant service” means:

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

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

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

(a)       pneumonia;

(b)       respiratory failure;

(c)       cardiac arrest;

(d)       circulatory failure; or

(e)       cessation of brain function;

“venous thrombosis” means an aggregation of blood factors, primarily platelets and fibrin with entrapment of cellular elements, present in a retinal, cerebral, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, portal or mesenteric vein.

Dated this       Third         day of              January          2001

The Common Seal of the    )

Repatriation Medical Authority                   )

was affixed to this instrument   )

in the presence of   )

KEN DONALD

CHAIRMAN