Statement of Principles concerning trigeminal neuralgia No. 24 of 1995 (Cth)

Instrument No.24 of 1995

Statement of Principles

concerning

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

(TIC DOULOUREUX)

ICD CODE: 350.1

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
subsection 196B(3)

1.         Being of the view that, on the sound medical-scientific evidence available to the Repatriation Medical Authority, it is more probable than not that trigeminal neuralgia and death from trigeminal neuralgia can be related to eligible war service (other than operational service) rendered by veterans and defence service (other than hazardous service) rendered by members of the Forces, the Repatriation Medical Authority determines, under subsection 196B(3) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, that the factors that must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, trigeminal neuralgia or death from trigeminal neuralgia is connected with the circumstances of that service, are:

(a)       suffering multiple sclerosis before the clinical onset of trigeminal neuralgia; or

(b)       suffering tumors affecting the trigeminal nerve before the clinical onset of trigeminal neuralgia; or

(c)       suffering vascular anomalies affecting the trigeminal nerve before the clinical onset of trigeminal neuralgia; or

(d)       suffering Paget's disease of the skull before the clinical onset of trigeminal neuralgia; or

(e)       inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for trigeminal neuralgia.

2.         Subject to clause 3 (below) at least one of the factors set out in paragraphs 1(a) to 1(e) must be related to any service rendered by a person.

3.         The factor set out in paragraph 1(e) applies only where:

(a)       the person’s trigeminal neuralgia was contracted prior to a period, or part of a period, of service to which the factor is related; and

(b)       the relationship suggested between the trigeminal neuralgia and the particular service of a person is a relationship set out in paragraph 8(1)(e), 9(1)(e) or 70(5)(d) of the Act.

4.         For the purposes of this Statement of Principles:

“ICD code” means a number assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in the tenth edition of the International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision, effective date of 1 October 1993, copyrighted by the US Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities, and having the Library of Congress number 77-94472;

“multiple sclerosis” means a demyelinating disorder in which there is focal destruction of myelin sheaths in the central nervous system accompanied by an inflammatory response, attracting ICD code 340;

“Paget's disease” means a disease in which there is simultaneous osseous hyperplasia and accelerated deossification, attracting ICD code 731.0;

“trigeminal neuralgia” (also known as Tic Douloureux) means a disorder involving the trigeminal nerve, which causes recurrent attacks of excruciating pain lasting from seconds to several minutes, attracting ICD code 350.1;

"tumour" means an abnormal growth, and includes benign and malignant lesions.

Dated this       Twelfth    day of       January      1995

The Common Seal of the    )

Repatriation Medical Authority                   )

was affixed to this instrument   )

in the presence of:   )

KEN DONALD

CHAIRMAN