Statement of Principles concerning relapsing polychondritis (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 6 of 2017) (Cth)

Statement of Principles

concerning

RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS
(Balance of Probabilities)

(No. 6 of 2017)

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

Dated       20 December 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

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

9Factor that must exist............................................................................................................... 4

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

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

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

1. Name

This is the Statement of Principles concerning relapsing polychondritis (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 6 of 2017).

1. Commencement

This instrument commences on 23 January 2017.

1. Authority

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

1. Revocation

The Statement of Principles concerning relapsing polychondritis No. 46 of 2008 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 relapsing polychondritis and death from relapsing polychondritis.

Meaning of relapsing polychondritis

(2)For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, relapsing polychondritis means a systemic autoimmune disease characterised by episodic, progressive inflammatory destruction of cartilaginous structures and connective tissue throughout the body, predominantly affecting the ears, nose, eyes, joints and respiratory tract.

(3)While relapsing polychondritis attracts ICD‑10‑AM code M94.1, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of relapsing polychondritis 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 relapsing polychondritis

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

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 relapsing polychondritis and death from relapsing polychondritis 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.

1. Factor that must exist

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

1. Relationship to service

The existence in a person of the factor referred to in section 9, applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, relapsing polychondritis where the person's relapsing polychondritis was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service.

Schedule 1 - Dictionary

Note: See Section 6

1. Definitions

In this instrument:

MRCAmeans the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.

relapsing polychondritis—see subsection 7(2).

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.