What can I claim secondary to localised sclerosis?
1 condition in the Repatriation Medical Authority's Statements of Principles list localised sclerosis as a factor. If DVA has accepted your localised sclerosis, each of these has a documented pathway to a further claim.
At a glance
- Accepted conditionLocalised sclerosis
- Conditions it may open1
- 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 localised sclerosis, and another condition's SoP lists localised sclerosis 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 localised sclerosis 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.
Olecranon bursitis
RH No. 63 of 2018 · BoP No. 64 of 2018
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (6): “having psoriasis, localised sclerosis, atopic dermatitis or another inflammatory skin disorder, where the skin disorder involves the skin of the extensor surface of the affected elbow, at the time of the clinical onset of olecranon bursitis” [clinical onset] — factor (13): “having psoriasis, localised sclerosis, atopic dermatitis or another inflammatory skin disorder, where the skin disorder involves the skin of the extensor surface of the affected elbow, at the time of the clinical worsening of olecranon bursitis” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (6): “having psoriasis, localised sclerosis, atopic dermatitis or another inflammatory skin disorder, where the skin disorder involves the skin of the extensor surface of the affected elbow, at the time of the clinical onset of olecranon bursitis” [clinical onset] — factor (13): “having psoriasis, localised sclerosis, atopic dermatitis or another inflammatory skin disorder, where the skin disorder involves the skin of the extensor surface of the affected elbow, at the time of the clinical worsening of olecranon bursitis” [worsening]
Other accepted conditions that also open olecranon bursitis
If any of these is also on your file, it reaches some of the same conditions localised sclerosis does.
What DVA means by localised sclerosis
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.
Localised sclerosis, for the purposes of the Statement of Principles, for the purposes of this Statement of Principles, localised sclerosis (also known as localised scleroderma or morphea): (a) means an autoimmune, fibrosing connective tissue disorder characterised by localised skin thickening with increased quantities of collagen; and (b) excludes systemic sclerosis, graft versus host disease with dermal fibrosis, and scleroderma-like conditions (for example, lipodermatosclerosis, scleromyxoedema, eosinophilic fasciitis and chronic radiation dermatitis).
Note the exclusion. This instrument expressly excludes Systemic sclerosis, graft versus host disease with dermal fibrosis, and scleroderma-like conditions (for example, lipodermatosclerosis, scleromyxoedema, eosinophilic fasciitis and chronic radiation dermatitis). A diagnosis of that is not a diagnosis of localised sclerosis, and a claim framed the wrong way fails on the definition before any factor is considered.
Aggravation-only factors. In this instrument, subsections 9(5) to 9(7) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, localised sclerosis where it was already present before or during service. If service caused localised sclerosis outright, those factors are not available to you.
RH No. 61 of 2018 · BoP No. 62 of 2018 · 5 factors
What could support a claim for localised sclerosis?
The Statement of Principles for localised sclerosis names 1 other condition among its own factors. If any of these is already accepted on your file, it may be the factor that carries a localised sclerosis claim — quoted here from the instrument.
Systemic sclerosis
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (2): “being treated with a drug or a drug from a class of drugs from the specified list of drugs at the time of the clinical onset of systemic sclerosis” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (5): “being treated with a drug or a drug from a class of drugs from the specified list of drugs at the time of the clinical worsening of systemic sclerosis” [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 →
Localised sclerosis accepted?
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