Cervical spondylosis — DVA SoP factors

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 11 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 spondylosis or death from cervical spondylosis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

1. (1)
   being a prisoner of war before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;
2. (2)
   having an inflammatory joint disease from the specified list of inflammatory joint diseases, in the cervical spine before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;

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

3. (3)
   having non-viral infection of the affected joint, resulting in inflammation within that joint, at least 6 months before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;
4. (4)
   having an intra-articular fracture of the spine, at the level of, or adjacent to, the affected joint, at least 6 months before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;
5. (5)
   having a spinal condition from the specified list of spinal conditions, affecting the cervical spine for at least the 6 months before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;

   Note: specified list of spinal conditions is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

6. (6)
   having undergone a spinal fusion, immediately above or below the affected joint, at least 6 months before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;

   Note: spinal fusion is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

7. (7)
   having a depositional joint disease from the specified list of depositional joint diseases, in the cervical spine before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;

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

8. (8)
   having trauma to the cervical spine at least 6 months before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis, and where the trauma to the cervical spine occurred within the 20 years before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;

   Note: trauma to the cervical spine is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

9. (9)
   having a penetrating injury to an intervertebral disc before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis at the level of, or adjacent to, the intervertebral disc injury;

   Note: penetrating injury to an intervertebral disc is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

10. (10)
    having a cervical intervertebral disc prolapse at least 6 months before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis at the level of the intervertebral disc prolapse;
11. (11)
    carrying loads of at least 15 kilograms on the head while upright to a cumulative total of at least 5,000 hours within any 10 year period before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;
12. (12)
    carrying a large bulky load of at least 15 kilograms positioned between the neck and shoulder to a cumulative total of at least 5,000 hours within any 10 year period before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;
13. (13)
    flying in high performance aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 500 hours within the 25 years before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;

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

14. (14)
    piloting a helicopter for a cumulative total of at least 500 hours within the 25 years before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;
15. (15)
    being obese for at least 10 years before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;

    Note: being obese is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

16. (16)
    having acromegaly involving the cervical spine before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;

    Note: acromegaly is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

17. (17)
    having Paget's disease of bone involving the cervical spine before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;
18. (18)
    being a prisoner of war before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;
19. (19)
    having an inflammatory joint disease from the specified list of inflammatory joint diseases, in the cervical spine before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;

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

20. (20)
    having non-viral infection of the affected joint, resulting in inflammation within that joint, at least 6 months before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;
21. (21)
    having an intra-articular fracture of the spine, at the level of, or adjacent to, the affected joint, at least 6 months before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;
22. (22)
    having a spinal condition from the specified list of spinal conditions, affecting the cervical spine for at least the 6 months before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;

    Note: specified list of spinal conditions is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

23. (23)
    having undergone a spinal fusion, immediately above or below the affected joint, at least 6 months before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;

    Note: spinal fusion is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

24. (24)
    having a depositional joint disease from the specified list of depositional joint diseases, in the cervical spine before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;

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

25. (25)
    having trauma to the cervical spine at least 6 months before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis, and where the trauma to the cervical spine occurred within the 20 years before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;

    Note: trauma to the cervical spine is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

26. (26)
    having a penetrating injury to an intervertebral disc before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis at the level of, or adjacent to, the intervertebral disc injury;

    Note: penetrating injury to an intervertebral disc is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

27. (27)
    having a cervical intervertebral disc prolapse at least 6 months before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis at the level of the intervertebral disc prolapse;
28. (28)
    carrying loads of at least 15 kilograms on the head while upright to a cumulative total of at least 5,000 hours within any 10 year period before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;
29. (29)
    carrying a large bulky load of at least 15 kilograms positioned between the neck and shoulder to a cumulative total of at least 5,000 hours within any 10 year period before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;
30. (30)
    flying in high performance aircraft for a cumulative total of at least 500 hours within the 25 years before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;

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

31. (31)
    piloting a helicopter for a cumulative total of at least 500 hours within the 25 years before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;
32. (32)
    being obese for at least 10 years before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;

    Note: being obese is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

33. (33)
    having acromegaly involving the cervical spine before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;

    Note: acromegaly is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

34. (34)
    having Paget's disease of bone involving the cervical spine before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;
35. (35)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for cervical spondylosis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(18) to 9(35) 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.