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SoP Library › Malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland

Statement of Principles

Malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland — DVA SoP factors

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

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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 thyroid gland

RH No. 39 of 2022 · BoP No. 40 of 202220 factors

Meaning of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland: (a) means a primary malignant neoplasm arising from the follicular epithelial cells of the thyroid gland; and (b) includes: (i) anaplastic thyroid cancer; (ii) follicular thyroid cancer; (iii) Hurthle cell thyroid cancer; (iv) mixed medullary and follicular thyroid cancer; (v) papillary thyroid cancer; and (vi) thyroid neoplasms of uncertain malignant potential; and (c) excludes: (i) haematolymphoid tumours including Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma; (ii) mesenchymal tumours including soft tissue sarcoma; and (iii) neuroendocrine tumours including medullary thyroid carcinoma. (3) While malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland attracts ICD-10-AM code C73, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland is that given in subsection (2). (4) For subsection (3), a reference to an ICD-10-AM code is a reference to the code assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), Tenth Edition, effective date

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 39 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 malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland or death from malignant neoplasm of the thyroid 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 thyroid gland at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

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

  2. (2)
    having received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.05 sievert of ionising radiation to the thyroid gland by the age of 20 years and at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

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

  3. (3)
    having iodine-131 (radioactive iodine) therapy at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;
  4. (4)
    being overweight or obese for at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

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

  5. (5)
    having a thyroid condition from the specified list of thyroid conditions at the time of the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

    Note: specified list of thyroid conditions is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    having acromegaly before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

    Note: acromegaly is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    having diabetes mellitus for at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;
  8. (8)
    having an autoimmune disease from the specified list of autoimmune diseases at the time of the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

    Note: specified list of autoimmune diseases is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  9. (9)
    undergoing organ or tissue transplantation, excluding corneal transplant, before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

    Note: organ or tissue transplantation is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    for parous women only, inability to breast feed for a cumulative period of at least 6 months before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

    Note: The period of breastfeeding could be cumulative over a number of pregnancies.

  11. (11)
    taking clomiphene at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;
  12. (12)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(12) 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. 40 of 2022

8 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 thyroid gland or death from malignant neoplasm of the thyroid 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 thyroid gland at least 10 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

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

  2. (2)
    having received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.1 sievert of ionising radiation to the thyroid gland by the age of 20 years and at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

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

  3. (3)
    having iodine-131 (radioactive iodine) therapy at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;
  4. (4)
    being obese for at least 10 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

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

  5. (5)
    having a thyroid condition from the specified list of thyroid conditions at the time of the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

    Note: specified list of thyroid conditions is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    having acromegaly before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

    Note: acromegaly is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    undergoing organ or tissue transplantation, excluding corneal transplant, before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

    Note: organ or tissue transplantation is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(8) 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 thyroid 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.

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Part of DVA Claims — Cancer & tumours — every Statement of Principles covering cancer and tumours.

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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 →