Barrett's oesophagus

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. 67 of 2016 · BoP No. 68 of 201618 factors

Meaning of barrett's oesophagus: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, Barrett's oesophagus means: (a) a condition in which there is metaplasia of the epithelium of the lower oesophagus from the normal stratified squamous epithelium to abnormal columnar epithelium; and (b) includes metaplasia at the gastro-oesophageal junction. (3) While Barrett's oesophagus attracts ICD-10-AM code K22.7, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of Barrett's oesophagus 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), Ninth Edition, effective date of 1 July 2015, copyrighted by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, ISBN 978-1-76007-020-5.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 67 of 2016

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 Barrett's oesophagus or death from Barrett's oesophagus with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

(1)
having gastro-oesophageal reflux disease for at least the one year before the clinical onset of Barrett's oesophagus;
(2)
having a hiatus hernia before the clinical onset of Barrett's oesophagus;
(3)
being obese for at least the five years before the clinical onset of Barrett's oesophagus;
Note: being obese is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(4)
an inability to consume an average of at least 200 grams per day of any combination of fruit and vegetables, for at least the five years before the clinical onset of Barrett's oesophagus;
(5)
having gastro-oesophageal reflux disease for at least the one year before the clinical worsening of Barrett's oesophagus;
(6)
having a hiatus hernia before the clinical worsening of Barrett's oesophagus;
(7)
being obese for at least the five years before the clinical worsening of Barrett's oesophagus;
Note: being obese is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(8)
an inability to consume an average of at least 200 grams per day of any combination of fruit and vegetables, for at least the five years before the clinical worsening of Barrett's oesophagus;
(9)
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for Barrett's oesophagus;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 8(5) to 8(9) 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. 68 of 2016

9 factors

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

(1)
having gastro-oesophageal reflux disease for at least the two years before the clinical onset of Barrett's oesophagus;
(2)
having a hiatus hernia before the clinical onset of Barrett's oesophagus;
(3)
being obese for at least the five years before the clinical onset of Barrett's oesophagus;
Note: being obese is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(4)
an inability to consume an average of at least 200 grams per day of any combination of fruit and vegetables, for at least the five years before the clinical onset of Barrett's oesophagus;
(5)
having gastro-oesophageal reflux disease for at least the two years before the clinical worsening of Barrett's oesophagus;
(6)
having a hiatus hernia before the clinical worsening of Barrett's oesophagus;
(7)
being obese for at least the five years before the clinical worsening of Barrett's oesophagus;
Note: being obese is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(8)
an inability to consume an average of at least 200 grams per day of any combination of fruit and vegetables, for at least the five years before the clinical worsening of Barrett's oesophagus;
(9)
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for Barrett's oesophagus;