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SoP Library › IgA NEPHROPATHY

Statement of Principles

IgA NEPHROPATHY — DVA SoP factors

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

IgA NEPHROPATHY

RH No. 63 of 2021 · BoP No. 64 of 202134 factors

Meaning of iga nephropathy: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, IgA nephropathy means: (a) a disease of the kidneys characterised by deposition of immunoglobulin A in the renal mesangium demonstrated by renal biopsy and which results in haematuria or proteinuria or renal dysfunction; and (b) excludes IgA vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein purpura).

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 63 of 2021

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 IgA nephropathy or death from IgA nephropathy with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having cirrhosis of the liver or chronic liver disease at the time of the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;

    Note: chronic liver disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    having an autoimmune disease from the specified list of autoimmune diseases at the time of the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;

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

  3. (3)
    having a malignant neoplasm at the time of the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;
  4. (4)
    having an infection from the specified list of infections within the 30 days before the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;

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

  5. (5)
    taking a drug which is associated in the individual with the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy during drug therapy and either: (a) the improvement of IgA nephropathy within 3 months of discontinuing or tapering drug therapy; or (b) the redevelopment of IgA nephropathy on rechallenge with the same drug; where taking the drug continued for at least the 7 days before the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;
  6. (6)
    taking a biologic agent for the treatment of cancer or autoimmune disease for at least the 7 days before the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;

    Note: biologic agent is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    undergoing kidney transplantation before the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;
  8. (8)
    having cirrhosis of the liver or chronic liver disease at the time of the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

    Note: chronic liver disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  9. (9)
    having an autoimmune disease from the specified list of autoimmune diseases at the time of the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

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

  10. (10)
    having a malignant neoplasm at the time of the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;
  11. (11)
    having an infection from the specified list of infections within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

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

  12. (12)
    taking a drug which is associated in the individual with the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy during drug therapy and either: (a) the improvement of IgA nephropathy within 3 months of discontinuing or tapering drug therapy; or (b) the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy on rechallenge with the same drug; and where taking the drug continued for at least the 7 days before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;
  13. (13)
    taking a biologic agent for the treatment of cancer or autoimmune disease for at least the 7 days before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

    Note: biologic agent is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  14. (14)
    undergoing kidney transplantation before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;
  15. (15)
    being overweight or obese for at least the 5 years before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

    Note: being overweight or obese is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  16. (16)
    having smoked at least 5 pack-years of tobacco products in the 10 years before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

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

  17. (17)
    inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with an organic solvent in an unventilated and confined space: (a) for an average of at least 2 hours per week; and (b) for at least 1 year within the 5 years before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

    Note: organic solvent is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  18. (18)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for IgA nephropathy;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(8) to 9(18) 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. 64 of 2021

16 factors

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

  1. (1)
    having cirrhosis of the liver or chronic liver disease at the time of the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;

    Note: chronic liver disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    having an autoimmune disease from the specified list of autoimmune diseases at the time of the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;

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

  3. (3)
    having a malignant neoplasm at the time of the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;
  4. (4)
    taking a drug which is associated in the individual with the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy during drug therapy and either: (a) the improvement of IgA nephropathy within 3 months of discontinuing or tapering drug therapy; or (b) the redevelopment of IgA nephropathy on rechallenge with the same drug; and where taking the drug continued for at least the 7 days before the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;
  5. (5)
    taking a biologic agent for the treatment of cancer or autoimmune disease for at least the 7 days before the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;

    Note: biologic agent is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    undergoing kidney transplantation before the clinical onset of IgA nephropathy;
  7. (7)
    having cirrhosis of the liver or chronic liver disease at the time of the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

    Note: chronic liver disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    having an autoimmune disease from the specified list of autoimmune diseases at the time of the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

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

  9. (9)
    having a malignant neoplasm at the time of the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;
  10. (10)
    taking a drug which is associated in the individual with the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy during drug therapy and either: (a) the improvement of IgA nephropathy within 3 months of discontinuing or tapering drug therapy; or (b) the worsening of IgA nephropathy on rechallenge with the same drug; and where taking the drug continued for at least the 7 days before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;
  11. (11)
    taking a biologic agent for the treatment of cancer or autoimmune disease for at least the 7 days before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

    Note: biologic agent is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  12. (12)
    undergoing kidney transplantation before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;
  13. (13)
    being overweight or obese for at least the 5 years before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

    Note: being overweight or obese is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  14. (14)
    having smoked at least 5 pack-years of tobacco products in the 10 years before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

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

  15. (15)
    inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with an organic solvent in an unventilated and confined space: (a) for an average of at least 2 hours per week; and (b) for at least 1 year within the 5 years before the clinical worsening of IgA nephropathy;

    Note: organic solvent is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  16. (16)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for IgA nephropathy;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(7) to 9(16) 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 igA NEPHROPATHY. 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.

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Presumptive liability · from 1 July 2026

IgA nephropathy may be accepted without proving the link to service

IgA nephropathy is listed in Part 3 as a sequela attributable to any defence service, provided a specified condition has already been accepted:

  • inflammatory bowel disease is an accepted condition that is present at the time of onset.

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 — Kidneys, bladder & sexual health — every Statement of Principles covering the kidneys, bladder and sexual health.

Others in this area:

Analgesic nephropathyAutosomal dominant polycystic kidney diseaseBenign prostatic hyperplasiaEndometriosisErectile dysfunctionFemale sexual dysfunctionObstructive and reflux nephropathyRapidly progressive crescentic glomerulonephritisSee 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 →