REPATRIATION MEDICAL AUTHORITY

INSTRUMENT NO. 69 of 2010

VETERANS’ ENTITLEMENTS ACT 1986

MILITARY REHABILITATION AND COMPENSATION ACT 2004

EXPLANATORY NOTES FOR TABLING

1. The Repatriation Medical Authority (the Authority), under subsection 196B(8) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA) revokes Instrument No. 55 of 2006, determined under subsection 196B(2) of the VEA concerning acute sprain and acute strain and death from acute sprain and acute strain.

2.             The Authority is of the view that there is sound medical-scientific evidence that indicates that acute sprain and acute strain and death from acute sprain and acute strain can be related to particular kinds of service.  The Authority has therefore determined pursuant to subsection 196B(2) of the VEA a Statement of Principles, Instrument No. 69 of 2010 concerning acute sprain and acute strain.  This Instrument will in effect replace the revoked Statement of Principles.

3.             The provisions of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (the MRCA) relating to claims for compensation commenced on 1 July 2004.  Claims under section 319 of the MRCA for acceptance of liability for a service injury sustained, a service disease contracted or service death on or after 1 July 2004 are determined by the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission by reference to Statements of Principles issued by the Authority pursuant to the VEA.

4.             The Statement of Principles sets out the factors that must as a minimum exist, and which of those factors must be related to the following kinds of service rendered by a person:

 operational service under the VEA;

 peacekeeping service under the VEA;

 hazardous service under the VEA;

 warlike service under the MRCA;

 non-warlike service under the MRCA,

before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting acute sprain and acute strain or death from acute sprain and acute strain, with the circumstances of that service.

5.             This new Instrument results from an investigation notified by the Authority in the Government Notices Gazette of 23 December 2009 concerning acute sprain and acute strain in accordance with section 196G of the VEA.  The investigation involved an examination of the sound medical-scientific evidence now available to the Authority, including the sound medical-scientific evidence it has previously considered.

6.             The contents of the new Instrument are in similar terms as the revoked Instrument.  Comparing the new and the revoked Instruments, the differences include:

• revising the definition of 'acute sprain and acute strain' in clause 3;
• revising factors 6(a) & 6(c) concerning 'a significant physical force applied to or through the affected joint';
• revising factors 6(b) & 6(d) concerning 'forceful stretching or high intensity use of a muscle or tendon';
• deleting onset factor concerning 'joint instability';
• previous factors concerning 'twisting, wrenching or stretching a joint ligament' are now redundant as they are covered by revised factors concerning 'a significant physical force applied to or through the affected joint';
• specifying a date of effect for the Instrument in clause 11.

7.             Prior to determining this Instrument, the Authority advertised its intention to undertake an investigation in relation to acute sprain and acute strain in the Government Notices Gazette of 23 December 2009, and circulated a copy of the notice of intention to investigate to a wide range of organisations representing veterans, service personnel and their dependants.  The Authority invited submissions from the Repatriation Commission, organisations and persons referred to in section 196E of the VEA, and any person having expertise in the field.  One submission was received for consideration by the Authority during the investigation.

8.             On 3 June 2010, the Authority wrote to organisations representing veterans, service personnel and their dependants regarding the proposed Instrument and the medical-scientific material considered by the Authority. This letter emphasised the deletion of a factor relating to joint instability. The Authority provided an opportunity to the organisations to make representations in relation to the proposed Instrument prior to its determination. No submissions were received for consideration by the Authority.

9.             The determining of this new Instrument finalises the investigation in relation to acute sprain and acute strain as advertised in the Government Notices Gazette of 23 December 2009.

10.         A list of references relating to the above condition is available to any person or organisation referred to in subsection 196E(1)(a) to (c) of the VEA.  Any such request must be made in writing to the Repatriation Medical Authority at the following address:

The Registrar

Repatriation Medical Authority Secretariat

GPO Box 1014

BRISBANE    QLD    4001