What can I claim secondary to cardiomyopathy?
3 conditions in the Repatriation Medical Authority's Statements of Principles list cardiomyopathy as a factor. If DVA has accepted your cardiomyopathy, each of these has a documented pathway to a further claim.
At a glance
- Accepted conditionCardiomyopathy
- Conditions it may open3
- SourceRMA SoPs
- Chart Review$600 + GST
How a secondary claim works
Some Statement of Principles factors are not about service at all — they name another condition. Where DVA has already accepted your cardiomyopathy, and another condition's SoP lists cardiomyopathy as a factor, that part of the next claim is already established on your file. How a secondary claim works, in full →
Conditions that list cardiomyopathy as a factor
Quoted from the instrument. A pathway existing is not the same as a claim succeeding — each factor carries thresholds your record has to satisfy.
Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter
RH No. 1 of 2023 · BoP No. 2 of 2023
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (7): “having cardiomyopathy at the time of the clinical onset of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter” [clinical onset] — factor (51): “having cardiomyopathy at the time of the clinical worsening of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (7): “having cardiomyopathy at the time of the clinical onset of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter” [clinical onset] — factor (44): “having cardiomyopathy at the time of the clinical worsening of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter” [worsening]
Heart block
RH No. 23 of 2022 · BoP No. 24 of 2022
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (4): “having cardiomyopathy at the time of the clinical onset of heart block” [clinical onset] — factor (37): “having cardiomyopathy at the time of the clinical worsening of heart block” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (4): “having cardiomyopathy at the time of the clinical onset of heart block” [clinical onset] — factor (31): “having cardiomyopathy at the time of the clinical worsening of heart block” [worsening]
Sick sinus syndrome
RH No. 66 of 2022 · BoP No. 67 of 2022
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (7): “having cardiomyopathy at the time of the clinical onset of sick sinus syndrome” [clinical onset] — factor (32): “having cardiomyopathy at the time of the clinical worsening of sick sinus syndrome” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (7): “having cardiomyopathy at the time of the clinical onset of sick sinus syndrome” [clinical onset] — factor (25): “having cardiomyopathy at the time of the clinical worsening of sick sinus syndrome” [worsening]
Other accepted conditions that also open atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter
If any of these is also on your file, it reaches some of the same conditions cardiomyopathy does.
What DVA means by cardiomyopathy
A claim is tested against the definition first. If the diagnosis on your file does not meet this wording, the factors below never get reached — so it is worth checking that what your doctor wrote matches what the instrument requires.
Cardiomyopathy, for the purposes of the Statement of Principles, for the purposes of this Statement of Principles, cardiomyopathy: (a) means a heterogeneous group of acquired diseases of the heart muscle (myocardium) involving mechanical or electrical dysfunction; and (b) includes: (i) dilated cardiomyopathy; (ii) restrictive cardiomyopathy; (iii) myocarditis with persistent mechanical or electrical dysfunction; (iv) hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; (v) arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy; (vi) hypertensive cardiomyopathy; and (vii) takotsubo (stress) cardiomyopathy; and (c) excludes: (i) exercise-induced cardiac remodelling (athlete's heart); (ii) myocardial abnormality caused by ischaemic heart disease or valvular disease; and (iii) pericardial disease including pericarditis.
RH No. 57 of 2024 · BoP No. 58 of 2024 · 28 factors
What could support a claim for cardiomyopathy?
The Statement of Principles for cardiomyopathy names 7 other conditions among its own factors. If any of these is already accepted on your file, it may be the factor that carries a cardiomyopathy claim — quoted here from the instrument.
Myocarditis
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (2): “having myocarditis before clinical onset or at the time of clinical worsening” [onset and worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (2): “having myocarditis before clinical onset or at the time of clinical worsening” [onset and worsening]
Sarcoidosis
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (6): “having infiltration of the myocardium due to: (a) amyloidosis; (b) iron overload (haemosiderosis); or (c) sarcoidosis; at the time of the clinical onset or clinical worsening” [onset and worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (6): “having infiltration of the myocardium due to: (a) amyloidosis; (b) iron overload (haemosiderosis); or (c) sarcoidosis; at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening” [onset and worsening]
Adrenal insufficiency
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (8): “having one of the following endocrine disorders: (a) acromegaly; (b) adrenal insufficiency; (c) Cushing syndrome; (d) diabetes mellitus; (e) hyperthyroidism, including goitre or Graves disease that has resulted in hyperthyroidism; (f) hypoparathyroidism; (g) hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto thyroiditis that has resulted in hypothyroidism; (h) primary hyperaldosteronism; or (i) thyrotoxicosis; at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening” [onset and worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (8): “having one of the following endocrine disorders: (a) acromegaly; (b) adrenal insufficiency; (c) Cushing syndrome; (d) diabetes mellitus; (e) hyperthyroidism, including goitre or Graves disease that has resulted in hyperthyroidism; (f) hypoparathyroidism; (g) hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto thyroiditis that has resulted in hypothyroidism; (h) primary hyperaldosteronism; or (i) thyrotoxicosis; at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening” [onset and worsening]
Coeliac disease
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (11): “having coeliac disease at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening” [onset and worsening]
Cirrhosis of the liver
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (14): “having cirrhosis of the liver before clinical onset or clinical worsening” [onset and worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (12): “having cirrhosis of the liver before clinical onset or clinical worsening” [onset and worsening]
Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (28): “having a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) or subarachnoid haemorrhage within the 30 days before the clinical onset or clinical worsening of takotsubo cardiomyopathy” [onset and worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (25): “having a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) or subarachnoid haemorrhage within the 14 days before the clinical onset or clinical worsening of takotsubo cardiomyopathy” [onset and worsening]
Hypertension
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (30): “having hypertension for at least the 5 years before the clinical onset of hypertensive cardiomyopathy, or at the time of the clinical worsening of hypertensive cardiomyopathy” [onset and worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (27): “having hypertension for at least the 5 years before the clinical onset of hypertensive cardiomyopathy, or at the time of the clinical worsening of hypertensive cardiomyopathy” [onset and worsening]
Reviewed by Dr Thomas Perkins
Founding doctor, Veterans Health Centre · former RAAF aviation medical officer · 13 years working exclusively with ADF members and veterans. Full profile →
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