NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION – MULTIPLE CONDITIONS – INSTRUMENTS SUNSETTING ON 1 April 2029
Section 196G of the
Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) gives notice under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) that it intends to carry out investigations under subsection 196B(7) of the VEA to review the contents of Statements of Principles concerning the following:
Condition: | Instrument Nos.: |
acute articular cartilage tear | 21 & 22 of 2019 |
acute meniscal tear of the knee | 25 & 26 of 2019 |
Alzheimer disease | 33 & 34 of 2019 |
blepharitis | 29 & 30 of 2019 |
chondromalacia patella | 1 & 2 of 2019 |
chronic insomnia disorder | 37 & 38 of 2019 |
chronic pruritus ani | 31 & 32 of 2019 |
concussion | 92 & 93 of 2018 |
de Quervain tendinopathy | 41 & 42 of 2019 |
dental malocclusion | 19 & 20 of 2019 |
Dupuytren disease | 9 & 10 of 2019 |
human immunodeficiency virus infection | 5 & 6 of 2019 |
human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 infection | 96 & 97 of 2018 |
hypopituitarism | 11 & 12 of 2019 |
iliotibial band syndrome | 3 & 4 of 2019 |
internal derangement of the knee | 7 & 8 of 2019 |
methaemoglobinaemia | 17 & 18 of 2019 |
moderate to severe traumatic brain injury | 94 & 95 of 2018 |
neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies | 35 & 36 of 2019 |
non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 90 & 91 of 2018 |
pilonidal sinus | 27 & 28 of 2019 |
sinus barotrauma | 23 & 24 of 2019 |
trigger finger | 39 & 40 of 2019 |
The Authority invites the following persons and organisations to make written submissions to the Authority in respect of any of the investigations:
a person eligible to make a claim for pension under Part II or Part IV of the VEA;
a person eligible to make a claim for compensation under section 319 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (the MRCA);
an organisation representing veterans, Australian mariners, members of the Forces, members of the Peacekeeping Forces, members within the meaning of the MRCA, or their dependants;
the Repatriation Commission or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission; and
a person having expertise in a field relevant to the investigation.
The Authority will hold its first meeting for the purposes of each of these investigations on 4 August 2026.
Under the VEA, the Authority is required to find out whether there is new information available about how the above listed conditions may be suffered or contracted, or death from the above listed conditions may occur; and the extent to which the above listed conditions or death from the above listed conditions may be war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease or a service death.
Persons and organisations wishing to make a submission can use the RMA website http://www.rma.gov.au/investigations/ to electronically lodge the submission and supporting information. Alternatively, submissions can be sent by email to info@rma.gov.au or posted to the address below. The RMA Submission Guidelines are available online for guidance. The RMA Secretariat may be contacted at the address, telephone number or email address below for further assistance.
All submissions must be in writing and received by the Authority no later than 24 July 2026.
By and on behalf of Repatriation Medical Authority: | |
| PROFESSOR TERENCE CAMPBELL AM CHAIRPERSON 14 April 2026 |
Repatriation Medical Authority
GPO Box 1014, Brisbane, Qld 4001
Telephone: (07) 3815 9404 Email: info@rma.gov.au
Overview
The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to provide a framework for the assessment and payment of veterans' pensions and benefits. The Act was introduced to address the need for a structured and comprehensive system to support Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans, addressing gaps in the recognition and compensation for war-related disabilities and injuries. The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority), under the VEA, is tasked with the responsibility of reviewing and updating the Statements of Principles concerning various medical conditions potentially suffered or contracted by veterans. This includes determining the extent to which these conditions are war-caused, defence-caused, or service-related. The Authority's policy objective is to ensure that veterans receive appropriate recognition and compensation for their service-related injuries and diseases, thereby fulfilling a commitment to those who have served the nation.
Scope and Application
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority) under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) has issued a notice of intent to investigate various Statements of Principles concerning specific medical conditions. These conditions range from acute articular cartilage tear to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, each linked to particular instrument numbers indicating their inclusion in the review process. The Authority's investigation aims to ascertain whether new information exists regarding the manner in which these conditions may be suffered or contracted, their potential war or service causation, and the extent to which they may qualify under the VEA as war-caused, defence-caused, a service injury, a service disease, or a service death. The Authority invites submissions from eligible claimants, representatives of relevant groups, and experts in pertinent fields, with a deadline of 24 July 2026 for written submissions. The first meeting for these investigations is scheduled for 4 August 2026, and the Authority can be contacted via their website, email, or postal address for further information or to submit relevant documentation.
Key Provisions
The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority), as stated under section 196G of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA), intends to conduct investigations into the contents of Statements of Principles concerning a list of medical conditions. These conditions include acute articular cartilage tear, Alzheimer disease, concussion, and several others (section 196G(1)(a)). The Authority is mandated to review new information about how these conditions may be suffered or contracted, and the extent to which they may be related to war, defence service, or military service (section 196G(1)(b)). The Authority invites submissions from eligible persons and organisations, including those eligible to claim pensions or compensation, relevant representative bodies, and experts in the field (section 196G(2)). Submissions can be made electronically via the RMA website, by email, or by post, with the deadline set for 24 July 2026 (section 196G(3)).
The obligations imposed by this notice include the requirement for interested parties to submit written submissions by the specified deadline (section 196G(3)). Submissions must address any new information relevant to the listed conditions and their connection to military service (section 196G(1)(a), (b)). The Authority must consider all submissions received and use them to inform its investigations (section 196G(4)). The Authority's investigations are designed to ensure that the Statements of Principles accurately reflect current understanding and evidence regarding the specified conditions and their causes (section 196G(1)).
Breach of the submission requirements or failure to comply with the notice may result in the Authority disregarding relevant information, which could affect the outcomes of the investigations. Although the VEA does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, the Authority may take such breaches into account in its deliberations (section 196G(4)). Additionally, any misleading or false submissions could potentially lead to further scrutiny or legal consequences, although these are not explicitly detailed in the notice. The primary consequence of non-compliance would be the exclusion of relevant information from the Authority’s review process.