Internal derangement of the knee
Meaning of internal derangement of the knee: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, internal derangement of the knee: (a) means a chronic disorder of the knee due to a torn meniscus of the knee, or a torn or stretched collateral, cruciate or capsular ligament of the knee; and (b) excludes chondromalacia patella and other disorders of the patella, congenital discoid meniscus, osteochondritis dissecans, cysts of the menisci, degenerative tears of the menisci, and other degenerative processes such as osteoarthritis and loose bodies in the knee joint.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 7 of 2019
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 internal derangement of the knee or death from internal derangement of the knee with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having a sprain involving a ligament of the affected knee within the one year before the clinical onset of internal derangement of the knee;
- (2)having an acute meniscal tear of the affected knee within the one year before the clinical onset of internal derangement of the knee;
- (3)having a sprain involving a ligament of the affected knee within the one year before the clinical worsening of internal derangement of the knee;
- (4)having an acute meniscal tear of the affected knee within the one year before the clinical worsening of internal derangement of the knee;
- (5)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for internal derangement of the knee;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(3) to 9(5) 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 2019
5 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, internal derangement of the knee or death from internal derangement of the knee is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having a sprain involving a ligament of the affected knee within the one year before the clinical onset of internal derangement of the knee;
- (2)having an acute meniscal tear of the affected knee within the one year before the clinical onset of internal derangement of the knee;
- (3)having a sprain involving a ligament of the affected knee within the one year before the clinical worsening of internal derangement of the knee;
- (4)having an acute meniscal tear of the affected knee within the one year before the clinical worsening of internal derangement of the knee;
- (5)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for internal derangement of the knee;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(3) to 9(5) 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.
