Instrument No.5 of 1997
Determination
of
Statement of Principles
concerning
HAEMOCHROMATOSIS
ICD CODE: 275.0
Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
1. This Statement of Principles is determined by the Repatriation Medical Authority under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (the Act).
Kind of injury, disease or death
2. (a) This Statement of Principles is about haemochromatosishaemochromatosis and death from haemochromatosis.
(b) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, “haemochromatosis” means a genetic disorder of iron storage in which an inappropriate increase in intestinal iron absorption results in the deposition of excessive quantities of iron in parenchymal cells, with eventual tissue damage and functional impairment of the organs involved, especially the liver, pancreas, heart and pituitary, attracting ICD code 275.0.
Note: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, this definition specifically excludes acquired haemosiderosis.
Basis for determining the factors
3. The Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that there is sound medical-scientific evidence that indicates that haemochromatosis and death from haemochromatosis can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans, members of Peacekeeping Forces, or members of the Forces.
Factors that must be related to service
4. Subject to clause 6, the factors set out in at least one of the paragraphs in clause 5 must be related to any relevant service rendered by the person.
Factors
5. The factors that must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting haemochromatosis or death from haemochromatosis with the circumstances of a person’s relevant service are:
(a) for men, drinking at least 150kg of alcohol (contained within alcoholic drinks) within any 10 year period before the clinical worsening of haemochromatosis; or
(b) for women, drinking at least 75kg of alcohol (contained within alcoholic drinks) within any 10 year period before the clinical worsening of haemochromatosis; or
(c) inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for haemochromatosis.
Factors that apply only to material contribution or aggravation
6. Paragraphs 5(a) to 5(c) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, haemochromatosis where the person’s haemochromatosis was suffered or contracted before or during (but not arising out of) the person’s relevant service; paragraph 8(1)(e), 9(1)(e), 70(5)(d) or 70(5A)(d) of the Act refers.
Other definitions
7. For the purposes of this Statement of Principles:
“alcohol (contained within alcoholic drinks)” is measured by the alcohol consumption calculations utilising the Australian Standard of 10 grams of alcohol per standard alcoholic drink;
“ICD code” means a number assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in the Australian Version of The International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), effective date of 1 July 1996, copyrighted by the National Coding Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, and having ISBN 0 642 24447 2;
“relevant service” means:
(a) operational service; or
(b) peacekeeping service; or
(c) hazardous service.
Dated this Twenty-second day of January 1997
The Common Seal of the )
Repatriation Medical Authority )
was affixed to this instrument )
in the presence of )
KEN DONALD
CHAIRMAN