Instrument No.27 of 1998
Determination
of
Statement of Principles
concerning
PSORIATIC ARTHROPATHY
ICD CODE: 696.0
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 psoriatic arthropathy and death from psoriatic arthropathy.
(b) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, “psoriatic arthropathy” means a chronic inflammatory arthritis, with specific clinical and radiological signs, occurring with psoriasis, attracting ICD code 696.0.
Basis for determining the factors
3. The Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that there is sound medical-scientific evidence that indicates that psoriatic arthropathy and death from psoriatic arthropathy 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, at least one of the factors set out 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 psoriatic arthropathy or death from psoriatic arthropathy with the circumstances of a person’s relevant service are:
(a) suffering from psoriasis at the time of the clinical onset of psoriatic arthropathy; or
(b) inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for psoriatic arthropathy.
Factors that apply only to material contribution or aggravation
6. Paragraph 5(b) applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, psoriatic arthropathy where the person’s psoriatic arthropathy 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:
“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;
“psoriasis” means a chronic recurrent papulosquamous skin disorder, associated with hyperproliferation of the epidermis, attracting ICD code 696.1;
“relevant service” means:
(a) operational service; or
(b) peacekeeping service; or
(c) hazardous service.
Dated this Fifth day of May 1998
The Common Seal of the )
Repatriation Medical Authority )
was affixed to this instrument )
in the presence of )
KEN DONALD
CHAIRMAN
Overview
The Statement of Principles concerning Psoriatic Arthropathy ICD Code: 696.0, issued in 1998, was enacted under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 by the Repatriation Medical Authority. This legislative instrument addresses the issue of recognising psoriatic arthropathy, a chronic inflammatory arthritis occurring with psoriasis, as a condition potentially linked to relevant military service. The determination aims to provide clarity on the circumstances under which psoriatic arthropathy and death from this condition can be considered related to service, facilitating appropriate veteran entitlements. The policy objective is to ensure that veterans who suffer from psoriatic arthropathy or die from it, under certain conditions, can access the necessary support and benefits.
Scope and Application
This Statement of Principles, determined under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, pertains specifically to the condition known as psoriatic arthropathy and death resulting from this condition among veterans, members of Peacekeeping Forces, and members of the Armed Forces. Psoriatic arthropathy, as defined within this context, is a chronic inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis, identifiable by specific clinical and radiological signs and assigned the ICD code 696.0. The Repatriation Medical Authority has established that there is sufficient medical-scientific evidence to support a connection between this condition, or death from it, and relevant service rendered by the affected individuals. To qualify for consideration under this Statement, the individual must have at least one of the specified factors related to their service: either suffering from psoriasis at the time of the clinical onset of psoriatic arthropathy or being unable to obtain appropriate clinical management for the condition. This Statement does not automatically apply to cases where the condition was contracted before or during service unless there is material contribution to or aggravation of the condition. The scope of this legislative instrument is national, and it extends its provisions to veterans and members of the specified forces across Australia.
Key Provisions
This Statement of Principles (para 1) is a legislative instrument determined by the Repatriation Medical Authority under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986. It concerns psoriatic arthropathy and death from psoriatic arthropathy (para 2). Psoriatic arthropathy is defined as a chronic inflammatory arthritis with specific clinical and radiological signs, occurring with psoriasis, attracting ICD code 696.0. The Authority believes that there is sound medical-scientific evidence that psoriatic arthropathy and death from it can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans, members of Peacekeeping Forces, or members of the Forces (para 3).
The Statement of Principles requires that at least one of the factors set out in the document must be related to the person’s relevant service (para 4). The factors that must exist to connect psoriatic arthropathy or death from it with the service are: suffering from psoriasis at the time of the clinical onset of psoriatic arthropathy, or an inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for psoriatic arthropathy (para 5). The inability to obtain appropriate clinical management applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, psoriatic arthropathy where the person’s condition was suffered or contracted before or during (but not arising out of) their relevant service (para 6).
The Statement of Principles imposes obligations on the parties it governs, requiring them to establish a connection between the veteran's or member's service and their psoriatic arthropathy or death from it. The Repatriation Medical Authority is tasked with determining if there is sufficient evidence to establish this connection. The veteran or member must provide evidence that at least one of the specified factors was related to their service. The Authority must also ensure that the evidence provided is sufficient to meet the criteria outlined in the Statement of Principles.
The legislation does not explicitly outline offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. However, the implications of failing to meet the criteria could result in the denial of entitlements or benefits related to service-related psoriatic arthropathy. The maximum penalties for breaches of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 could apply, which include fines and imprisonment for fraudulent claims or misrepresentations.