Motor neurone disease
Meaning of motor neurone disease: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, motor neurone disease: (a) means a progressive neurodegenerative disease with either: (i) the presence of upper and lower motor neurone dysfunction in at least one body region; or (ii) the presence of lower motor neurone dysfunction in at least two body regions; and (b) the absence of other disease processes that explain the motor neurone dysfunction. (3) While motor neurone disease attracts ICD-10-AM code G12.2, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of motor neurone disease 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 of 1 July 2017, copyrighted by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, ISBN 978-1-76007-296-4.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 111 of 2021
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 motor neurone disease or death from motor neurone disease with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having smoked tobacco products in an amount of at least 10 pack-years before the clinical onset of motor neurone disease;
Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)being exposed to lead as specified before the clinical onset of motor neurone disease, where the first exposure occurred at least 5 years before the clinical onset of motor neurone disease;
Note: being exposed to lead as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (3)inhaling formaldehyde for a cumulative total of at least 5,000 hours: (a) at a level of at least 1 part per million; or (b) resulting in sensory irritation of the eyes or nose; at least 3 years before the clinical onset of motor neurone disease;
- (4)having smoked tobacco products in an amount of at least 10 pack-years before the clinical worsening of motor neurone disease;
Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (5)being exposed to lead as specified before the clinical onset of motor neurone disease, where the first exposure occurred at least 5 years before the clinical worsening of motor neurone disease;
Note: being exposed to lead as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (6)inhaling formaldehyde for a cumulative total of at least 5,000 hours: (a) at a level of at least 1 part per million; or (b) resulting in sensory irritation of the eyes or nose; at least 3 years before the clinical worsening of motor neurone disease;
- (7)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for motor neurone disease;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(4) to 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. 112 of 2021
3 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, motor neurone disease or death from motor neurone disease is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having smoked tobacco products in an amount of at least 20 pack-years before the clinical onset of motor neurone disease;
Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)having smoked tobacco products in an amount of at least 20 pack-years before the clinical worsening of motor neurone disease;
Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (3)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for motor neurone disease;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(2) and 9(3) 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.
