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Statement of Principles

Hepatitis D — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statement of Principles for Hepatitis D. DVA can only accept a claim for Hepatitis D 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.

Hepatitis D

RH No. 11 of 20172 factors

Meaning of hepatitis d: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, hepatitis D means infection with the hepatitis D virus, as a co-infection or superinfection with the hepatitis B virus, resulting in: (a) an acute, symptomatic, clinical illness characterised by inflammation of the liver and commonly accompanied by fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort and jaundice; or (b) a chronic infection which may involve both inflammation of the liver and the development of fibrosis in the longer term. Both acute and chronic infection must be confirmed by laboratory testing for hepatitis D serological or nucleic acid markers, or both. (3) While hepatitis D attracts ICD-10-AM code B16.0, B16.1, B17.0 or B18.0, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of hepatitis D is that given in subsection (2). (4) For subsection (3), a reference to an ICD-10-AM code is a reference to the code assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), Ninth Edition, effective date of 1 July 2015, copyrighted by the Independent Hospital Pricing A

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 11 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 hepatitis D or death from hepatitis D with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    being exposed to the hepatitis D virus at least 14 days before the clinical onset of hepatitis D;

    Note: being exposed to the hepatitis D virus is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for hepatitis D;

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.

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 hepatitis D. 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 →