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Statement of Principles

Malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland. DVA can only accept a claim for Malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland 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.

Malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland

RH No. 102 of 2023 · BoP No. 103 of 202311 factors

Meaning of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland: (a) means a primary malignant neoplasm arising from the epithelial cells of the major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands), minor salivary glands or salivary gland ducts; and (b) excludes: (i) carcinoid tumour; (ii) haematolymphoid tumours including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma; and (iii) soft tissue sarcoma.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 102 of 2023

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 neoplasm of the salivary gland or death from malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.1 sievert of ionising radiation to the salivary gland at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland;

    Note: cumulative equivalent dose is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    undergoing ablative treatment with radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland, where the first exposure occurred at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland;
  3. (3)
    for lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the salivary gland only, having infection with Epstein-Barr virus before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland;

    Note: infection with Epstein-Barr virus is defined in the schedule 1 dictionary.

  4. (4)
    having infection with human immunodeficiency virus before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland;
  5. (5)
    having smoked tobacco products in an amount of at least 20 pack-years at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland;

    Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland before the clinical worsening of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(6) 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. 103 of 2023

5 factors

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

  1. (1)
    having received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.5 sievert of ionising radiation to the salivary gland at least 10 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland;

    Note: cumulative equivalent dose is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    for individuals aged 20 years or less, having received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.5 sievert of ionising radiation to the salivary gland at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland;

    Note: cumulative equivalent dose is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    undergoing ablative treatment with radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland, where the first exposure occurred at least 10 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland;
  4. (4)
    having infection with human immunodeficiency virus before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland;
  5. (5)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland before the clinical worsening of malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 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.

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 malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland. 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 — Cancer & tumours — every Statement of Principles covering cancer and tumours.

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 →