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Statement of Principles

Graves disease — DVA SoP factors

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

Graves disease

RH No. 7 of 2022 · BoP No. 8 of 202246 factors

Meaning of graves disease: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, Graves disease means a chronic autoimmune disease primarily affecting the thyroid gland, in which thyroid antibodies activate the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor, causing thyroid hyperplasia and excessive thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 7 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 Graves disease or death from Graves disease with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having iodine excess within the 6 months before the clinical onset of Graves disease;

    Note: Iodine excess may be due to consuming foods, dietary supplements or medications with a high content of iodine.

    Note: iodine excess is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    taking a drug from the specified list of drugs within the 2 years before the clinical onset of Graves disease;

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

  3. (3)
    being treated with alemtuzumab or antithymocyte globulin within the 10 years before the clinical onset of Graves disease;
  4. (4)
    taking amiodarone for a continuous period of at least 6 weeks, within the 2 years before the clinical onset of Graves disease;
  5. (5)
    undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the thyroid gland was in the field of radiation, within the 25 years before the clinical onset of Graves disease;
  6. (6)
    having received iodine-131 (radioactive iodine) for the treatment of nodular goitre within the 10 years before the clinical onset of Graves disease;
  7. (7)
    having smoked tobacco products: (a) in an amount of at least 3 pack-years before the clinical onset of Graves disease; and (b) if smoking has ceased before the clinical onset of Graves disease, then that onset occurred within 10 years of cessation;

    Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    being pregnant or within the 18 months postpartum at the time of the clinical onset of Graves disease;
  9. (9)
    having ethanol injection into the thyroid gland for the treatment of a thyroid adenoma within the 6 months before the clinical onset of Graves disease;
  10. (10)
    having trauma to the eye within the 6 months before the clinical onset of Graves disease;

    Note: Trauma to the eye may include blunt or penetrating physical injury to the eye.

  11. (11)
    for Graves disease first presenting as thyrotoxic crisis only, having an acute precipitating event within the 48 hours before the clinical onset of Graves disease;

    Note: acute precipitating event and thyrotoxic crisis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  12. (12)
    having iodine excess within the 6 months before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;

    Note: Iodine excess may be due to consuming foods, dietary supplements or medications with a high content of iodine.

    Note: iodine excess is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  13. (13)
    taking a drug from the specified list of drugs within the 2 years before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;

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

  14. (14)
    being treated with alemtuzumab or antithymocyte globulin within the 10 years before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;
  15. (15)
    taking amiodarone for a continuous period of at least 6 weeks, within the 2 years before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;
  16. (16)
    undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the thyroid gland was in the field of radiation, within the 25 years before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;
  17. (17)
    having received iodine-131 (radioactive iodine) for the treatment of nodular goitre within the 10 years before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;
  18. (18)
    having smoked tobacco products: (a) in an amount of at least 3 pack-years before the clinical worsening of Graves disease; and (b) if smoking has ceased before the clinical worsening of Graves disease, then that worsening occurred within 10 years of cessation;

    Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  19. (19)
    being pregnant or within the 18 months postpartum at the time of the clinical worsening of Graves disease;
  20. (20)
    having ethanol injection into the thyroid gland for the treatment of a thyroid adenoma within the 6 months before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;
  21. (21)
    having trauma to the eye within the 6 months before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;

    Note: Trauma to the eye may include blunt or penetrating physical injury to the eye.

  22. (22)
    for thyrotoxic crisis only, having an acute precipitating event within the 48 hours before that clinical worsening of Graves disease;

    Note: acute precipitating event and thyrotoxic crisis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  23. (23)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for Graves disease;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(12) to 9(23) 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. 8 of 2022

23 factors

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

  1. (1)
    having iodine excess within the 3 months before the clinical onset of Graves disease;

    Note: Iodine excess may be due to consuming foods dietary supplements or medications with a high content of iodine.

    Note: iodine excess is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    taking a drug from the specified list of drugs within the 1 year before the clinical onset of Graves disease;

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

  3. (3)
    being treated with alemtuzumab or antithymocyte globulin within the 10 years before the clinical onset of Graves disease;
  4. (4)
    taking amiodarone for a continuous period of at least 6 weeks, within the 1 year before the clinical onset of Graves disease;
  5. (5)
    undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the thyroid gland was in the field of radiation, within the 25 years before the clinical onset of Graves disease;
  6. (6)
    having received iodine-131 (radioactive iodine) for the treatment of nodular goitre within the 10 years before the clinical onset of Graves disease;
  7. (7)
    having smoked tobacco products: (a) in an amount of at least 5 pack-years before the clinical onset of Graves disease; and (b) if smoking has ceased before the clinical onset of Graves disease, then that onset occurred within 5 years of cessation;

    Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    being pregnant or within the 18 months postpartum at the time of the clinical onset of Graves disease;
  9. (9)
    having ethanol injection into the thyroid gland for the treatment of a thyroid adenoma within the 6 months before the clinical onset of Graves disease;
  10. (10)
    having trauma to the eye within the 6 months before the clinical onset of Graves disease;

    Note: Trauma to the eye may include blunt or penetrating physical injury to the eye.

  11. (11)
    for Graves disease first presenting as thyrotoxic crisis only, having an acute precipitating event within the 48 hours before the clinical onset of Graves disease;

    Note: acute precipitating event and thyrotoxic crisis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  12. (12)
    having iodine excess within the 3 months before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;

    Note: Iodine excess may be due to consuming foods, dietary supplements or medications with a high content of iodine.

    Note: iodine excess is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  13. (13)
    taking a drug from the specified list of drugs within the 1 year before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;

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

  14. (14)
    being treated with alemtuzumab or antithymocyte globulin within the 10 years before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;
  15. (15)
    taking amiodarone for a continuous period of at least 6 weeks, within the 1 year before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;
  16. (16)
    undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the thyroid gland was in the field of radiation, within the 25 years before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;
  17. (17)
    having received iodine-131 (radioactive iodine) for the treatment of nodular goitre within the 10 years before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;
  18. (18)
    having smoked tobacco products: (a) in an amount of at least 5 pack-years before the clinical worsening of Graves disease; and (b) if smoking has ceased before the clinical worsening of Graves disease, then that worsening occurred within 5 years of cessation;

    Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  19. (19)
    being pregnant or within the 18 months postpartum at the time of the clinical worsening of Graves disease;
  20. (20)
    having ethanol injection into the thyroid gland for the treatment of a thyroid adenoma within the 6 months before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;
  21. (21)
    having trauma to the eye within the 6 months before the clinical worsening of Graves disease;

    Note: Trauma to the eye may include blunt or penetrating physical injury to the eye.

  22. (22)
    for thyrotoxic crisis only, having an acute precipitating event within the 48 hours before that clinical worsening of Graves disease;

    Note: acute precipitating event and thyrotoxic crisis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  23. (23)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for Graves disease;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(12) to 9(23) 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 graves disease. 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 — Hormones & metabolism — every Statement of Principles covering hormones and metabolism.

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 →