Malignant melanoma of the skin — DVA SoP factors

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 34 of 2024

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 malignant melanoma of the skin or death from malignant melanoma of the skin with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

1. (1)
   having at least 5 sunburns at the affected site at least 2 years before clinical onset;

   Note: sunburn and clinical onset are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

2. (2)
   having a burn scar involving the affected site at least 5 years before clinical onset;
3. (3)
   having sunlight exposure to unprotected skin for a cumulative period of at least 2,250 latitude equivalent hours before clinical onset;

   Note: latitude equivalent hours and unprotected skin are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

4. (4)
   having ultraviolet radiation exposure from an ultraviolet-emitting tanning device on at least 5 occasions before the clinical onset of malignant melanoma of the skin, where the first exposure occurred more than 2 years before clinical onset;
5. (5)
   having PUVA therapy, where: (a) the first PUVA treatment commenced at least 10 years before clinical onset; and (b) at least 200 PUVA treatments were administered, before clinical onset;

   Note: PUVA therapy is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

6. (6)
   undergoing solid organ (excluding corneal transplant) or bone marrow transplantation before clinical onset;
7. (7)
   being treated with methotrexate or azathioprine within the 5 years before clinical;
8. (8)
   being infected with human immunodeficiency virus before clinical onset;
9. (9)
   having non-Hodgkin lymphoma at least one year before clinical onset;
10. (10)
    having chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small cell lymphoma at least one year before clinical onset;

    Note: Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small cell lymphoma is also known as mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma.

11. (11)
    having Parkinson's disease for at least 2 years before clinical onset;
12. (12)
    for superficial spreading melanoma only, taking oral estradiol menopausal hormone therapy continuously for at least 6 months, more than 2 years before clinical onset;
13. (13)
    taking voriconazole continuously for at least 1 year, more than 3 years before clinical onset;
14. (14)
    being obese for at least 5 years within the 20 years before clinical onset;

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

15. (15)
    consuming at least 30 grams of alcohol per day for at least one year, more than 5 years before clinical onset;
16. (16)
    being employed as a firefighter for a cumulative period of at least 10 years, more than 5 years before clinical onset;
17. (17)
    inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with dielectric (insulating) liquids containing polychlorinated biphenyls during the production or repair of capacitors, transformers, or electrical switches, for a cumulative period of at least 2,000 hours, completed at least 20 years before clinical onset;
18. (18)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for malignant neoplasm of the skin before clinical worsening;

    Note: clinical worsening is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 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.