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SoP Library › Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome

Statement of Principles

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome — DVA SoP factors

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

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome

RH No. 42 of 2017 · BoP No. 43 of 201714 factors

Meaning of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, femoroacetabular impingement syndrome means a disorder of the hip due to abnormal contact between the proximal femur and the acetabulum, in the presence of: (a) relevant symptoms and corresponding clinical signs; and (b) imaging findings that are consistent with cam morphology or pincer morphology.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 42 of 2017

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 femoroacetabular impingement syndrome or death from femoroacetabular impingement syndrome with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    running or jogging an average of at least 30 kilometres per week for the one month before the clinical onset of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;
  2. (2)
    undertaking weight bearing exercise involving repeated activity of the hip on the affected side, at a minimum intensity of five METs, for at least four hours per week for the one month before the clinical onset of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;

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

  3. (3)
    increasing the frequency, duration or intensity of weight bearing activity involving the hip on the affected side by at least 100 percent, to a minimum intensity of five METs for at least two hours per day, within the seven days before the clinical onset of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;

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

  4. (4)
    running or jogging an average of at least 30 kilometres per week for the one month before the clinical worsening of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;
  5. (5)
    undertaking weight bearing exercise involving repeated activity of the hip on the affected side, at a minimum intensity of five METs, for at least four hours per week for the one month before the clinical worsening of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;

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

  6. (6)
    increasing the frequency, duration or intensity of weight bearing activity involving the hip on the affected side by at least 100 percent, to a minimum intensity of five METs for at least two hours per day, within the seven days before the clinical worsening of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;

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

  7. (7)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;

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.

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 43 of 2017

7 factors

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

  1. (1)
    running or jogging an average of at least 60 kilometres per week for the one month before the clinical onset of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;
  2. (2)
    undertaking weight bearing exercise involving repeated activity of the hip on the affected side, at a minimum intensity of five METs, for at least six hours per week for the one month before the clinical onset of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;

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

  3. (3)
    increasing the frequency, duration or intensity of weight bearing activity involving the hip on the affected side by at least 100 percent, to a minimum intensity of five METs for at least four hours per day, within the seven days before the clinical onset of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;

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

  4. (4)
    running or jogging an average of at least 60 kilometres per week for the one month before the clinical worsening of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;
  5. (5)
    undertaking weight bearing exercise involving repeated activity of the hip on the affected side, at a minimum intensity of five METs, for at least six hours per week for the one month before the clinical worsening of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;

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

  6. (6)
    increasing the frequency, duration or intensity of weight bearing activity involving the hip on the affected side by at least 100 percent, to a minimum intensity of five METs for at least four hours per day, within the seven days before the clinical worsening of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;

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

  7. (7)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome;

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 femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. 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.

Work out your impairment pointsEstimate the paymentHow a PI assessment works
Presumptive liability · from 1 July 2026

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome may be accepted without proving the link to service

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome is listed in Part 2 of the determination as attributable to defence service, provided the criteria below are met.

  • Qualifying service: for more than 5 years; and excluding the first 5 years of defence service in the following roles: special forces, including: (i) Special Air Service Regiment; and (ii) Commandos; and (iii) Special Operations Engineer Regiment; and (iv) Clearance Divers; or Airfield Defence Guards; infantry; or engineers.
    Onset: during the qualifying service, or within 5 years after the last day of that service.

A diagnosis is still required, and the presumption may not apply where there is clear evidence of a cause other than service. "Onset" means when an injury was sustained, or when all the signs and symptoms of a disease were first present — not the date of diagnosis. Applies to claims made on or after 1 July 2026.

How presumptive liability works →

Part of DVA Claims — Hips & groin — every Statement of Principles covering the hips and groin.

Others in this area:

Gluteal tendinopathyInguinal herniaLabral tearTrochanteric bursitisVaricocoeleBilateral Hip - OsteoarthritisSee all →
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 →