Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. DVA can only accept a claim for Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency 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.

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.

RH No. 33 of 2023 · BoP No. 34 of 20234 factors

Meaning of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency means a genetic disorder of plasma protein metabolism which involves reduced serum levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 33 of 2023

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 alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency or death from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

(1)
having smoked tobacco products in an amount of at least 5 pack-years before the clinical worsening of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency;
Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(2)
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(1) and 9(2) 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. 34 of 2023

2 factors

At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency or death from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

(1)
having smoked tobacco products in an amount of at least 5 pack-years before the clinical worsening of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency;
Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(2)
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency;

Accepted — what is it worth?

A Statement of Principles decides one thing only: whether DVA accepts liability for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. It says nothing about how much you are paid. Compensation is worked out separately, from impairment points under the GARP — so a condition can be accepted and still rate few points, or rate more than you expect once it is combined with everything else on your file.