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SoP Library › Alcohol use disorder

Statement of Principles

Alcohol use disorder — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Alcohol use disorder. DVA can only accept a claim for Alcohol use disorder if at least one of these factors is met and connected to your service. Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) applies to operational service; Balance of Probabilities (BoP) applies to peacetime service.

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Source: Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles as held by the Veterans Health Centre. SoPs are amended and replaced regularly; always confirm the current instrument at rma.gov.au before relying on it.

Alcohol use disorder

RH No. 48 of 2017 · BoP No. 49 of 201730 factors

Meaning of alcohol use disorder: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, alcohol use disorder means a disorder of mental health meeting the following diagnostic criteria (derived from DSM-5): A problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by at least four of the following, occurring within a 12-month period: A. Alcohol is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended. B. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol use. C. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use alcohol, or recover from its effects. D. Craving, or a strong desire or urge to use alcohol. E. Recurrent alcohol use resulting in a failure to fulfil major role obligations at work, school, or home. F. Continued alcohol use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of alcohol. G. Important social, occupational or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use. H. Recurrent alcohol use in situations in which it is physically hazardous. I. Alcohol use is continued despite knowledge of having a per

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 48 of 2017

At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting alcohol use disorder or death from alcohol use disorder with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified at the time of the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor within the five years before the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor within the five years before the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  4. (4)
    experiencing the death of a significant other within the ten years before the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: significant other is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    experiencing a category 2 stressor within the one year before the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: category 2 stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    having persistent pain of at least three months duration at the time of the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: persistent pain is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery within the two years before the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;
  9. (9)
    having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor within the five years before the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  11. (11)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor within the five years before the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  12. (12)
    experiencing the death of a significant other within the ten years before the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: significant other is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  13. (13)
    experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  14. (14)
    experiencing a category 2 stressor within the one year before the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: category 2 stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  15. (15)
    having persistent pain of at least three months duration at the time of the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: persistent pain is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  16. (16)
    undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery within the two years before the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;
  17. (17)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for alcohol use disorder;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(9) to 9(17) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 49 of 2017

13 factors

At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, alcohol use disorder or death from alcohol use disorder is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified at the time of the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor within the two years before the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor within the two years before the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  4. (4)
    experiencing the death of a significant other within the ten years before the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: significant other is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    experiencing a category 2 stressor within the six months before the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: category 2 stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor within the two years before the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  9. (9)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor within the two years before the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    experiencing the death of a significant other within the ten years before the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: significant other is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  11. (11)
    experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  12. (12)
    experiencing a category 2 stressor within the six months before the clinical worsening of alcohol use disorder;

    Note: category 2 stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  13. (13)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for alcohol use disorder;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(7) to 9(13) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.

A VHC Diagnostic Assessment addresses each of these factors one by one against your service record and clinical history. See how a VHC DVA claim works, see all fees ($600 + GST per stage) or book an appointment.

About Dr Thomas Perkins

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Founding doctor of the Veterans Health Centre in Ipswich, Queensland, and one of Australia's most experienced practitioners in veterans' medicolegal medicine.

Dr Perkins has spent more than thirteen years working exclusively with current and former ADF members — treating their conditions, writing their reports and navigating the DVA system alongside them. With over 100,000 claims submitted and 2,000 Permanent Impairment Assessments completed, he has seen precisely what separates an accepted claim from a rejected one at every level, from initial liability to the Veterans' Review Board.

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