Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis — DVA SoP factors

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

RH No. 7 of 2020 · BoP No. 8 of 20206 factors

Meaning of hypersensitivity pneumonitis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, hypersensitivity pneumonitis: (a) means a non-infectious, immunological inflammation of the lung parenchyma secondary to inhalation, by a sensitised subject, of any one of a variety of external antigens; and (b) includes acute, subacute and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis; and (c) excludes fibrosing interstitial lung disease, bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia, and lung inflammation resulting from antigen exposure by means other than inhalation, such as ingested drugs and acute anaphylaxis.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 7 of 2020

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 hypersensitivity pneumonitis or death from hypersensitivity pneumonitis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

(1)
inhaling the specific antigen responsible for the hypersensitivity pneumonitis before the clinical onset of hypersensitivity pneumonitis;
Note: antigen and specific antigen responsible for the hypersensitivity pneumonitis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(2)
inhaling the specific antigen responsible for the hypersensitivity pneumonitis within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of hypersensitivity pneumonitis;
Note: antigen and specific antigen responsible for the hypersensitivity pneumonitis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(3)
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for hypersensitivity pneumonitis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(2) and 9(3) 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 2020

3 factors

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

(1)
inhaling the specific antigen responsible for the hypersensitivity pneumonitis before the clinical onset of hypersensitivity pneumonitis;
Note: antigen and specific antigen responsible for the hypersensitivity pneumonitis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(2)
inhaling the specific antigen responsible for the hypersensitivity pneumonitis within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of hypersensitivity pneumonitis;
Note: antigen and specific antigen responsible for the hypersensitivity pneumonitis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(3)
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for hypersensitivity pneumonitis;

Accepted — what is it worth?

A Statement of Principles decides one thing only: whether DVA accepts liability for hypersensitivity pneumonitis. 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.