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Statement of Principles

Eosinophilic oesophagitis — DVA SoP factors

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

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.

Eosinophilic oesophagitis

RH No. 29 of 2022 · BoP No. 30 of 202216 factors

Meaning of eosinophilic oesophagitis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, eosinophilic oesophagitis means a chronic, immune-mediated oesophageal disease, characterised by symptoms related to oesophageal dysfunction, together with eosinophil-predominant inflammation of the oesophageal epithelium.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 29 of 2022

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 eosinophilic oesophagitis or death from eosinophilic oesophagitis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    taking an average of at least 600 milligrams of aspirin per day for the desensitisation of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease for at least the 3 months before the clinical onset of eosinophilic oesophagitis;
  2. (2)
    taking carbamazepine daily for at least the 7 days before the clinical onset of eosinophilic oesophagitis;
  3. (3)
    having oral or sublingual allergen immunotherapy at the time of the clinical onset of eosinophilic oesophagitis;
  4. (4)
    undergoing organ or tissue transplantation, excluding corneal transplant, before the clinical onset of eosinophilic oesophagitis;

    Note: organ or tissue transplantation is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    taking an average of at least 600 milligrams of aspirin per day for the desensitisation of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease for at least the 3 months before the clinical worsening of eosinophilic oesophagitis;
  6. (6)
    taking carbamazepine daily for at least the 7 days before the clinical worsening of eosinophilic oesophagitis;
  7. (7)
    having oral or sublingual allergen immunotherapy at the time of the clinical worsening of eosinophilic oesophagitis;
  8. (8)
    undergoing organ or tissue transplantation, excluding corneal transplant, before the clinical worsening of eosinophilic oesophagitis;

    Note: organ or tissue transplantation is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  9. (9)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for eosinophilic oesophagitis;

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. 30 of 2022

7 factors

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

  1. (1)
    taking an average of at least 600 milligrams of aspirin per day for the desensitisation of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease for at least the 3 months before the clinical onset of eosinophilic oesophagitis;
  2. (2)
    taking carbamazepine daily for at least the 7 days before the clinical onset of eosinophilic oesophagitis;
  3. (3)
    having oral or sublingual allergen immunotherapy at the time of the clinical onset of eosinophilic oesophagitis;
  4. (4)
    taking an average of at least 600 milligrams of aspirin per day for the desensitisation of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease for at least the 3 months before the clinical worsening of eosinophilic oesophagitis;
  5. (5)
    taking carbamazepine daily for at least the 7 days before the clinical worsening of eosinophilic oesophagitis;
  6. (6)
    having oral or sublingual allergen immunotherapy at the time of the clinical worsening of eosinophilic oesophagitis;
  7. (7)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for eosinophilic oesophagitis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 8(4) to 8(7) 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.

Accepted — what is it worth?

A Statement of Principles decides one thing only: whether DVA accepts liability for eosinophilic oesophagitis. It says nothing about how much you are paid. Compensation is worked out separately, from impairment points under the GARP — so a condition can be accepted and still rate few points, or rate more than you expect once it is combined with everything else on your file.

Part of DVA Claims — Stomach, bowel & liver — every Statement of Principles covering the stomach, bowel and liver.

Others in this area:

Dr Thomas Perkins, Veterans Health Centre

Reviewed by Dr Thomas Perkins

Founding doctor, Veterans Health Centre · former RAAF aviation medical officer · 13 years working exclusively with ADF members and veterans. Full profile →