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SoP Library › Cervical intervertebral disc prolapse

Statement of Principles

Cervical intervertebral disc prolapse — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Cervical intervertebral disc prolapse. DVA can only accept a claim for Cervical intervertebral disc prolapse 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.

Cervical intervertebral disc prolapse

RH No. 66 of 2023 · BoP No. 67 of 202326 factors

Meaning of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse: This Statement of Principles applies to cervical intervertebral disc prolapse that has been diagnosed on the basis of: (a) clinical manifestations of local pain and stiffness, or symptoms and signs of cervical spinal cord compression or cervical nerve root compression; and (b) imaging evidence of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse, including protrusion, herniation, extrusion or rupture of the nucleus pulposus or annulus fibrosis of a cervical intervertebral disc into the vertebral canal of the cervical spine.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 66 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 cervical intervertebral disc prolapse or death from cervical intervertebral disc prolapse with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having trauma to the affected intervertebral disc within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;

    Note: trauma to the affected intervertebral disc is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    having a penetrating injury to the affected intervertebral disc or adjacent vertebral body, within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;

    Note: penetrating injury to the affected intervertebral disc or adjacent vertebral body is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    flying in high performance aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 500 hours within any 10 year period before the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;

    Note: high performance aircraft is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  4. (4)
    flying in a helicopter as operational aircrew, for a cumulative total of at least 2,500 hours within the 10 years before the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;
  5. (5)
    having smoked tobacco products in an amount of at least 5 pack-years before the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse, and if smoking has ceased before the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse, then that onset occurred within 5 years of cessation;

    Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    having bacterial infection of the affected disc at the time of the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;
  7. (7)
    having trauma to the affected intervertebral disc within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;

    Note: trauma to the affected intervertebral disc is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    having a penetrating injury to the affected intervertebral disc or adjacent vertebral body, within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;

    Note: penetrating injury to the affected intervertebral disc or adjacent vertebral body is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  9. (9)
    flying in high performance aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 500 hours within any 10 year period before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;

    Note: high performance aircraft is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    flying in a helicopter as operational aircrew, for a cumulative total of at least 2,500 hours within the 10 years before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;
  11. (11)
    having smoked tobacco products in an amount of at least 5 pack-years before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse, and if smoking has ceased before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse, then that worsening occurred within 5 years of cessation;

    Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  12. (12)
    having bacterial infection of the affected disc at the time of the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;
  13. (13)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for cervical intervertebral disc prolapse before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 67 of 2023

13 factors

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

  1. (1)
    having trauma to the affected intervertebral disc within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;

    Note: trauma to the affected intervertebral disc is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    having a penetrating injury to the affected intervertebral disc or adjacent vertebral body, within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;

    Note: penetrating injury to the affected intervertebral disc or adjacent vertebral body is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    flying in high performance aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 1,000 hours within any 10 year period before the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse, and where the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse occurred within the 25 years following that period;

    Note: high performance aircraft is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  4. (4)
    flying in a helicopter as operational aircrew, for a cumulative total of at least 5,000 hours within the 10 years before the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;
  5. (5)
    having smoked tobacco products in an amount of at least 10 pack-years before the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse, and if smoking has ceased before the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse, then that onset occurred within 5 years of cessation;

    Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    having bacterial infection of the affected disc at the time of the clinical onset of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;
  7. (7)
    having trauma to the affected intervertebral disc within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;

    Note: trauma to the affected intervertebral disc is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    having a penetrating injury to the affected intervertebral disc or adjacent vertebral body, within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;

    Note: penetrating injury to the affected intervertebral disc or adjacent vertebral body is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  9. (9)
    flying in high performance aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 1,000 hours within any 10 year period before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse, and where the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse occurred within the 25 years following that period;

    Note: high performance aircraft is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    flying in a helicopter as operational aircrew, for a cumulative total of at least 5,000 hours within the 10 years before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;
  11. (11)
    having smoked tobacco products in an amount of at least 10 pack-years before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse, and if smoking has ceased before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse, then that worsening occurred within 5 years of cessation;

    Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  12. (12)
    having bacterial infection of the affected disc at the time of the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;
  13. (13)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for cervical intervertebral disc prolapse before the clinical worsening of cervical intervertebral disc prolapse;

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.

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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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