Meniere disease and meniere syndrome

Meniere disease and meniere syndrome — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Meniere disease and meniere syndrome. DVA can only accept a claim for Meniere disease and meniere syndrome 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.

Meniere disease and meniere syndrome

RH No. 68 of 2024 · BoP No. 69 of 202411 factors

Meaning of meniere disease and meniere syndrome: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, Meniere disease: (a) means a primary (idiopathic) pathology affecting both the cochlea and the vestibular apparatus of the labyrinth on the same side with clinical manifestations of episodic attacks of: (i) vertigo; (ii) sensorineural hearing loss; and/or (iii) tinnitus; (iv) occurring all on the same side; and (b) includes primary endolymphatic hydrops; and (c) excludes vestibular migraine.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 68 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 Meniere disease and Meniere syndrome or death from Meniere disease and Meniere syndrome with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

(1)
having a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the 6 months before clinical onset or clinical worsening;
(2)
having otosyphilis of the affected ear at the time of clinical onset;
(3)
having any of the following autoimmune diseases before clinical onset; (a) ankylosing spondylitis; (b) Hashimoto thyroiditis; (c) rheumatoid arthritis; (d) systemic lupus erythematosus; (e) Cogan syndrome; (f) Susac syndrome; (g) Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome; or (h) psoriatic arthritis;
(4)
having middle ear or inner ear surgery at least 2 months before clinical onset;
(5)
taking hydroxychloroquine in the 5 months before clinical onset;
(6)
taking amikacin, gentamicin, or tobramycin before clinical onset;
(7)
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for Meniere disease and Meniere syndrome before clinical worsening;

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 69 of 2024

4 factors

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

(1)
having a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the 3 months, before clinical onset or clinical worsening;
(2)
having otosyphilis of the affected ear at the time of clinical onset;
(3)
having middle ear or inner ear surgery at least 2 months before clinical onset;
(4)
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for Meniere disease and Meniere syndrome before clinical worsening;

Accepted — what is it worth?

A Statement of Principles decides one thing only: whether DVA accepts liability for meniere disease and meniere syndrome. 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.