Chronic fatigue syndrome
Meaning of chronic fatigue syndrome: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, chronic fatigue syndrome means a syndrome of intense, prolonged fatigue that meets the following diagnostic criteria: (a) new or definitive onset of severe fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and that may be worsened by physical activity or mental exertion; (b) the fatigue has persisted for at least 6 consecutive months and is not due to ongoing exertion; (c) other mental or physical conditions associated with fatigue have been ruled out by a doctor and by any relevant diagnostic testing; (d) the fatigue significantly interferes with daily activities and work; and (e) the individual concurrently has 4 or more of the following 8 symptoms: (i) post-exertion malaise lasting more than 24 hours; (ii) unrefreshing sleep; (iii) significant impairment of short-term memory or concentration; (iv) muscle pain; (v) pain in the joints without swelling or redness; (vi) headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity; (vii) tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpit; or (viii) a sore throat that is frequent or recurring.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 105 of 2021
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 chronic fatigue syndrome or death from chronic fatigue syndrome with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having an acute infection from the specified list of infections at the time of the clinical onset of chronic fatigue syndrome;
Note: specified list of infections is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)living or working in a hostile or life-threatening environment for a period of at least 4 weeks within the 6 months before the clinical onset of chronic fatigue syndrome;
Note: hostile or life-threatening environment is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (3)experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical onset of chronic fatigue syndrome;
Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)experiencing a category 1A stressor within the 1 year before the clinical onset of chronic fatigue syndrome;
Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (5)experiencing a category 1B stressor within the 1 year before the clinical onset of chronic fatigue syndrome;
Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (6)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for chronic fatigue syndrome;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(6) 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. 106 of 2021
2 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, chronic fatigue syndrome or death from chronic fatigue syndrome is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having an acute infection from the specified list of infections at the time of the clinical onset of chronic fatigue syndrome;
Note: specified list of infections is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for chronic fatigue syndrome;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(2) 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.
