Localised sclerosis
Meaning of localised sclerosis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, localised sclerosis (also known as localised scleroderma or morphea): (a) means an autoimmune, fibrosing connective tissue disorder characterised by localised skin thickening with increased quantities of collagen; and (b) excludes systemic sclerosis, graft versus host disease with dermal fibrosis, and scleroderma-like conditions (for example, lipodermatosclerosis, scleromyxoedema, eosinophilic fasciitis and chronic radiation dermatitis).
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 61 of 2018
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 localised sclerosis or death from localised sclerosis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust, at the time material containing crystalline silica was being: (a) produced; (b) excavated; (c) drilled, cut or ground; or (d) used in construction, manufacturing, cleaning or blasting, for a cumulative period of at least 2 500 hours before the clinical onset of localised sclerosis;
- (2)being treated with a drug or a drug from a class of drugs from the specified list of drugs at the time of the clinical onset of systemic sclerosis;
Note: specified list of drugs is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (3)undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the affected site was in the field of radiation, before the clinical onset of localised sclerosis;
- (4)having an injury to the skin at the affected site within the six months before the clinical onset of localised sclerosis;
Note: injury to the skin is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (5)being treated with a drug or a drug from a class of drugs from the specified list of drugs at the time of the clinical worsening of systemic sclerosis;
Note: specified list of drugs is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (6)undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the affected site was in the field of radiation, before the clinical worsening of localised sclerosis;
- (7)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for localised sclerosis;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(5) to 9(7) 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. 62 of 2018
5 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, localised sclerosis or death from localised sclerosis is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)being treated with a drug or a drug from a class of drugs from the specified list of drugs at the time of the clinical onset of systemic sclerosis;
Note: specified list of drugs is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the affected site was in the field of radiation, before the clinical onset of localised sclerosis;
- (3)being treated with a drug or a drug from a class of drugs from the specified list of drugs at the time of the clinical worsening of systemic sclerosis;
Note: specified list of drugs is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the affected site was in the field of radiation, before the clinical worsening of localised sclerosis;
- (5)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for localised sclerosis;
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.
