REPATRIATION MEDICAL AUTHORITY
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES NO. 31 of 2005
VETERANS’ ENTITLEMENTS ACT 1986
MILITARY REHABILITATION AND COMPENSATION ACT 2004
EXPLANATORY NOTES FOR TABLING
- The Repatriation Medical Authority (‘the Authority’), under subsection 196B(8) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (‘the VEA’) revokes Instrument No. 81 of 2001 of 9 October 2001, which was determined under subsection 196B(2) of the VEA concerning osteoarthrosis.
2. The Authority is of the view that there is sound medical-scientific evidence that indicates that osteoarthrosis and death from osteoarthrosis can be related to particular kinds of service. The Authority has therefore determined, pursuant to subsection 196B(2) of the VEA, Statement of Principles concerning osteoarthrosis No. 31 of 2005. This Instrument will in effect replace the revoked Statement of Principles.
3. Pursuant to the provisions of the VEA and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (‘the MRCA’), claims for pension under the VEA or compensation under the MRCA are determined by the Repatriation Commission or 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 osteoarthrosis or death from osteoarthrosis, with the circumstances of that service.
5. This new instrument results from an investigation notified in the Government Notices Gazettes of 15 October 2003 and 14 July 2004 concerning osteoarthrosis by the Authority, 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 title and format of this new Instrument has been varied, including a new titling clause 1, headnote to clause 2 and the renumbering of subsequent clauses. These changes have been introduced in order to assist users in locating the appropriate Instrument when searching the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.
7. The contents of the new Instrument are in similar terms as the revoked Instruments. Comparing the new and the revoked Instruments, the differences include:
- deleting the previously included factors relating to permanent ligamentous instability of the affected joint;
- new factors 6(e) and (s) relating to haemarthrosis;
- rewording factors 6(h) and (v) relating to frostbite, requiring that the frostbite involve the affected joint;
- rewording factors 6(j) and (x) relating to lifting loads, so that the factor applies to hip, knee and ankle joints;
- rewording factors 6(k) and (y) relating to being obese, so that the factor applies to hip, knee, ankle and hand joints;
- new factors 6(l) and (z) relating to ascending and descending stairs or rungs of a ladder;
- a new factor 6(zd) relating to inability to obtain appropriate clinical management;
- deleting the definition of ‘frostbite’, ‘internal derangement of a knee’, ‘permanent ligamentous instability’, ‘vibrating, percussive, industrial tool’ and ‘weight bearing’ in clause 9;
- revising the definition of ‘ICD-10-AM code’, ‘inflammatory joint disease’ and ‘relevant service’ in clause 9;
- including a new definition of ‘haemarthrosis’ and ‘hand joint’ in clause 9; and
- specifying a date of effect for the Instrument in clause 11.
8. Further changes to the format and wording of the Instrument reflect the commencement of the MRCA and clarify that pursuant to subsection 196B(3A) of the VEA, the Statement of Principles has been determined for the purposes of both the VEA and the MRCA.
9. The Instrument refers to, but does not incorporate by reference, The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), effective date of 1 July 2004, copyrighted by the National Centre for Classification in Health, Sydney, NSW, and having ISBN 1 86487 594 1. This publication is available for purchase from the National Centre for Classification in Health, The University of Sydney, PO Box 170, Lidcombe NSW 1825.
10. Prior to determining this instrument, the Authority advertised its intention to undertake an investigation in relation to osteoarthrosis in the Government Notices Gazettes of 15 October 2003, 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.
11. Following the commencement of the MRCA, the Authority published a “Further Notice of Investigations” in the Government Notices Gazette of 14 July 2004, extending the closing date for submissions in relation to the above mentioned investigation until 10 September 2004. The Authority again invited submissions from the Repatriation Commission, organisations and persons referred to in section 196E of the VEA (who include persons eligible to make a claim under the MRCA), as well as the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission and any person having expertise in the field. Nine submissions were received and considered by the Authority during the investigation.
12. On 15 August 2005, the Authority wrote to organisations representing veterans, service personnel and their dependants regarding the proposed instrument, the medical-scientific material considered by the Authority and drawing attention to the non-inclusion of factors relating to permanent ligamentous instability of the affected joint in the proposed new instrument. The Authority provided an opportunity to the organisations to make representations in relation to the proposed instrument prior to its determination. No representations were received.
13. The determining of this new instrument finalises the investigation in relation to osteoarthrosis as advertised in the Government Notices Gazette of 15 October 2003 and 14 July 2004.
14. A list of references relating to the above condition is available, on written request, from the Repatriation Medical Authority Secretariat.