Macular degeneration — DVA SoP factors

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 59 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 macular degeneration or death from macular degeneration with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

1. (1)
   smoking at least ten pack-years of cigarettes, or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products, before the clinical onset of macular degeneration, and: (a) smoking commenced at least five years before the clinical onset of macular degeneration; and (b) where smoking has ceased, the clinical onset of macular degeneration has occurred within 20 years of cessation;

   Note: pack-years of cigarettes, or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

2. (2)
   being exposed to second-hand smoke: (a) for at least 10 000 hours before the clinical onset of macular degeneration; and (b) where the first exposure to second-hand smoke commenced at least five years before the clinical onset of macular degeneration; and (c) where the last exposure to second-hand smoke occurred within the 20 years before the clinical onset of macular degeneration;

   Note: being exposed to second-hand smoke is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

3. (3)
   consuming a cumulative total of at least 15 kilograms of alcohol in a continuous period of two years, within the five years before the clinical onset of macular degeneration;

   Note: Alcohol consumption is calculated utilising the Australian Standard of ten grams of alcohol per standard alcoholic drink.

4. (4)
   being obese for at least the five years before the clinical onset of macular degeneration;

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

5. (5)
   having chronic kidney disease within the five years before the clinical onset of macular degeneration;

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

6. (6)
   having a lipid profile as specified, within the five years before the clinical onset of macular degeneration;

   Note: lipid profile as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

7. (7)
   having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of macular degeneration;
8. (8)
   having hypertension at the time of the clinical onset of macular degeneration;
9. (9)
   for wet macular degeneration only, undergoing cataract surgery involving the affected eye within the five years before the clinical onset of macular degeneration;

   Note: wet macular degeneration is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

10. (10)
    smoking at least ten pack-years of cigarettes, or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products, before the clinical worsening of macular degeneration, and: (a) smoking commenced at least five years before the clinical worsening of macular degeneration; and (b) where smoking has ceased, the clinical worsening of macular degeneration has occurred within 20 years of cessation;

    Note: pack-years of cigarettes, or the equivalent thereof in other tobacco products is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

11. (11)
    being exposed to second-hand smoke: (a) for at least 10 000 hours before the clinical worsening of macular degeneration; and (b) where the first exposure to second-hand smoke commenced at least five years before the clinical worsening of macular degeneration; and (c) where the last exposure to second-hand smoke occurred within the 20 years before the clinical worsening of macular degeneration;

    Note: being exposed to second-hand smoke is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

12. (12)
    consuming a cumulative total of at least 15 kilograms of alcohol in a continuous period of two years, within the five years before the clinical worsening of macular degeneration;

    Note: Alcohol consumption is calculated utilising the Australian Standard of ten grams of alcohol per standard alcoholic drink.

13. (13)
    being obese for at least the five years before the clinical worsening of macular degeneration;

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

14. (14)
    having chronic kidney disease within the five years before the clinical worsening of macular degeneration;

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

15. (15)
    having a lipid profile as specified, within the five years before the clinical worsening of macular degeneration;

    Note: lipid profile as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

16. (16)
    having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical worsening of macular degeneration;
17. (17)
    having hypertension at the time of the clinical worsening of macular degeneration;
18. (18)
    for wet macular degeneration only, undergoing cataract surgery involving the affected eye within the five years before the clinical worsening of macular degeneration;

    Note: wet macular degeneration is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

19. (19)
    for clinical worsening of wet macular degeneration manifesting as subretinal haemorrhage only, having anticoagulant therapy or thrombolytic therapy, within the seven days before the clinical worsening of macular degeneration;

    Note: anticoagulant therapy and thrombolytic therapy are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

20. (20)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for macular degeneration;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(10) to 9(20) 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.