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SoP Library › Melioidosis

Statement of Principles

Melioidosis — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Melioidosis. DVA can only accept a claim for Melioidosis 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.

Melioidosis

RH No. 55 of 2023 · BoP No. 56 of 202314 factors

Meaning of melioidosis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, melioidosis means an illness caused by infection with the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 55 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 melioidosis or death from melioidosis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    being exposed to Burkholderia pseudomallei before the clinical onset of melioidosis;

    Note: being exposed to Burkholderia pseudomallei is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    being in an immunocompromised state as specified at the time of the clinical onset of melioidosis;

    Note: immunocompromised state as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    having a medical condition from the specified list of medical conditions at the time of the clinical onset of melioidosis;

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

  4. (4)
    for males, having consumed at least 44 kilograms of alcohol within the 3 years before the clinical onset of melioidosis;

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

  5. (5)
    for females, having consumed at least 30 kilograms of alcohol within the 3 years before the clinical onset of melioidosis;

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

  6. (6)
    having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of melioidosis;
  7. (7)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for melioidosis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 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. 56 of 2023

7 factors

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

  1. (1)
    being exposed to Burkholderia pseudomallei before the clinical onset of melioidosis;

    Note: being exposed to Burkholderia pseudomallei is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    being in an immunocompromised state as specified at the time of the clinical onset of melioidosis;

    Note: immunocompromised state as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    having a medical condition from the specified list of medical conditions at the time of the clinical onset of melioidosis;

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

  4. (4)
    for males, having consumed at least 65 kilograms of alcohol within the 3 years before the clinical onset of melioidosis;

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

  5. (5)
    for females, having consumed at least 44 kilograms of alcohol within the 3 years before the clinical onset of melioidosis;

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

  6. (6)
    having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of melioidosis;
  7. (7)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for melioidosis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 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.

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.

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Dr Perkins has spent more than thirteen years working exclusively with current and former ADF members — treating their conditions, writing their reports and navigating the DVA system alongside them. With over 100,000 claims submitted and 2,000 Permanent Impairment Assessments completed, he has seen precisely what separates an accepted claim from a rejected one at every level, from initial liability to the Veterans' Review Board.

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