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SoP Library › Aplastic anaemia

Statement of Principles

Aplastic anaemia — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Aplastic anaemia. DVA can only accept a claim for Aplastic anaemia 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.

Aplastic anaemia

RH No. 58 of 2020 · BoP No. 59 of 202027 factors

Meaning of aplastic anaemia: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, aplastic anaemia: (a) means bone marrow failure, characterised by: (i) destruction of haematopoietic stem cells with peripheral blood cytopaenia; and (ii) hypocellular bone marrow in which normal haematopoietic tissue is replaced by fatty marrow; and (b) excludes: (i) inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, including Fanconi anaemia, dyskeratosis congenita, Shwachman- Diamond syndrome and inherited amegakaryocytic thrombocytopaenia; (ii) isolated leukopaenia and isolated thrombocytopaenia; (iii) myelodysplastic syndrome; (iv) paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria; and (v) replacement of bone marrow due to fibrosis or an infiltrative neoplastic process. (3) While aplastic anaemia attracts ICD-10-AM code D61.1, D61.2, D61.3 or D61.8, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of aplastic anaemia is that given in subsection (2). (4) For subsection (3), a reference to an ICD-10-AM code is a reference to the code assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), Tenth Edition, effective

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 58 of 2020

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 aplastic anaemia or death from aplastic anaemia with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    being pregnant at the time of the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  2. (2)
    being treated with a drug specified in the Schedule 2 - Drugs of this Instrument within the one year before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  3. (3)
    being treated with a drug which is associated in the individual with: (a) the development of aplastic anaemia within six months of drug therapy; and (b) the improvement of aplastic anaemia within six months of discontinuing or tapering drug therapy;
  4. (4)
    taking a non-aspirin, nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drug on at least four days per week for a continuous period of at least four weeks, within the one year before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  5. (5)
    using 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) within the three months before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  6. (6)
    being exposed to benzene as specified on at least 30 days within the one year before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;

    Note: being exposed to benzene as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with a herbicide or insecticide from the specified list of herbicides and insecticides, on at least 30 days within the six months before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;

    Note: specified list of herbicides and insecticides is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    having acute hepatitis within the one year before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  9. (9)
    having a liver transplant within the six months before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  10. (10)
    having an autoimmune disease from the specified list of autoimmune diseases within the two years before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;

    Note: specified list of autoimmune diseases is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  11. (11)
    having a haematological malignancy from the specified list of haematological malignancies within the six months before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;

    Note: specified list of haematological malignancies is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  12. (12)
    having a thymoma or thymic carcinoma before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  13. (13)
    having an infection with parvovirus B19 or acute infectious mononucleosis within the six months before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  14. (14)
    being pregnant at the time of the clinical worsening of aplastic anaemia;
  15. (15)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for aplastic anaemia;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(14) and 9(15) 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. 59 of 2020

12 factors

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

  1. (1)
    being pregnant at the time of the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  2. (2)
    being treated with a drug specified in the Schedule 2 - Drugs of this Instrument within the six months before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  3. (3)
    being treated with a drug which is associated in the individual with: (a) the development of aplastic anaemia within six months of drug therapy; and (b) the improvement of aplastic anaemia within six months of discontinuing or tapering drug therapy;
  4. (4)
    being exposed to benzene as specified on at least 45 days within the six months before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;

    Note: being exposed to benzene as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with an organophosphate insecticide on at least 45 days within the six months before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  6. (6)
    having acute hepatitis within the one year before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  7. (7)
    having a liver transplant within the three months before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  8. (8)
    having an autoimmune disease from the specified list of autoimmune diseases within the two years before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;

    Note: specified list of autoimmune diseases is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  9. (9)
    having chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma or T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukaemia within the six months before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  10. (10)
    having a thymoma or thymic carcinoma before the clinical onset of aplastic anaemia;
  11. (11)
    being pregnant at the time of the clinical worsening of aplastic anaemia;
  12. (12)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for aplastic anaemia;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(11) and 9(12) 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.

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