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SoP Library › Chloracne

Statement of Principles

Chloracne — DVA SoP factors

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

Chloracne

RH No. 62 of 2020 · BoP No. 63 of 20206 factors

Meaning of chloracne: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, chloracne: (a) means a chronic skin disease, characterised by an acne-like eruption of open and closed comedones (whiteheads and blackheads), pustules and epidermal cysts, occurring after the systemic absorption of certain polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons; and (b) excludes drug-related acneiform facial eruptions.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 62 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 chloracne or death from chloracne with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with a polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon from the specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, within the three months before the clinical onset of chloracne; (a) fungicides; (b) herbicides; (c) insecticides; (d) transformer oils; and (e) wood protectors. (a) being in an environment shrouded in dust from timber treated with; (b) being sprayed with; (c) cleaning or maintaining equipment used to apply; (d) consuming cooking oil or food contaminated with; (e) decanting or spraying; (f) handling or sawing timber treated with; and (g) using cutting oil contaminated with; any of the polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons;

    Note: Examples of products that may contain polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list include:.

    Note: Examples of circumstances that may lead to exposure to polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list include:.

    Note: specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with a polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon from the specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, within the three months before the clinical worsening of chloracne; (a) fungicides; (b) herbicides; (c) insecticides; (d) transformer oils; and (e) wood protectors. (a) being in an environment shrouded in dust from timber treated with; (b) being sprayed with; (c) cleaning or maintaining equipment used to apply; (d) consuming cooking oil or food contaminated with; (e) decanting or spraying; (f) handling or sawing timber treated with; and (g) using cutting oil contaminated with; any of the polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons;

    Note: Examples of products that may contain polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list include:.

    Note: Examples of circumstances that may lead to exposure to polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list include:.

    Note: specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for chloracne;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(2) and 9(3) 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. 63 of 2020

3 factors

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

  1. (1)
    inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with a polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon from the specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, within the six weeks before the clinical onset of chloracne; (a) fungicides; (b) herbicides; (c) insecticides; (d) transformer oils; and (e) wood protectors. (a) being in an environment shrouded in dust from timber treated with; (b) being sprayed with; (c) cleaning or maintaining equipment used to apply; (d) consuming cooking oil or food contaminated with; (e) decanting or spraying; (f) handling or sawing timber treated with; and (g) using cutting oil contaminated with; any of the polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons;

    Note: Examples of products that may contain polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list include:.

    Note: Examples of circumstances that may lead to exposure to polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list include:.

    Note: specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with a polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon from the specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, within the six weeks before the clinical worsening of chloracne; (a) fungicides; (b) herbicides; (c) insecticides; (d) transformer oils; and (e) wood protectors. (a) being in an environment shrouded in dust from timber treated with; (b) being sprayed with; (c) cleaning or maintaining equipment used to apply; (d) consuming cooking oil or food contaminated with; (e) decanting or spraying; (f) handling or sawing timber treated with; and (g) using cutting oil contaminated with; any of the polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons;

    Note: Examples of products that may contain polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list include:.

    Note: Examples of circumstances that may lead to exposure to polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list include:.

    Note: specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for chloracne;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(2) and 9(3) 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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