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Statement of Principles

Leptospirosis — DVA SoP factors

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

Leptospirosis

RH No. 101 of 2022 · BoP No. 102 of 20224 factors

Meaning of leptospirosis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, leptospirosis means an illness caused by infection with a bacterium from the genus Leptospira.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 101 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 leptospirosis or death from leptospirosis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    being exposed to a pathogenic bacterium from the genus Leptospira between 2 and 30 days before the clinical onset of leptospirosis;

    Note: being exposed to a pathogenic bacterium is defined in Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

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

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.

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 102 of 2022

2 factors

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

  1. (1)
    being exposed to a pathogenic bacterium from the genus Leptospira between 2 and 30 days before the clinical onset of leptospirosis;

    Note: being exposed to a pathogenic bacterium is defined in Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

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

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 leptospirosis. 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 — Infections & tropical disease — every Statement of Principles covering infections and tropical disease.

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 →