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Statement of Principles

Neurocognitive disorder with lewy bodies — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Neurocognitive disorder with lewy bodies. DVA can only accept a claim for Neurocognitive disorder with lewy bodies 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.

Neurocognitive disorder with lewy bodies

RH No. 35 of 2019 · BoP No. 36 of 20197 factors

Meaning of neurocognitive disorder with lewy bodies: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies means a central nervous system neurodegenerative disorder meeting the following clinical diagnostic criteria (derived from DSM-5): A. Evidence of major neurocognitive disorder or mild neurocognitive disorder. B. The disorder has an insidious onset and gradual progression. C. The disorder meets at least two of the following diagnostic features: (i) fluctuating cognition with pronounced variations in attention and alertness; (ii) recurrent visual hallucinations that are well formed and detailed; (iii) spontaneous features of Parkinson's disease or secondary Parkinsonism at least one year after the clinical onset of cognitive symptoms; or (iv) rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder. D. The cognitive deficits in Criteria A, B and C are not primarily due to any of the following: (i) delirium; (ii) another mental disorder (for example, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia); or (iii) cerebrovascular disease, another neurodegenerative disease (for example, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea), brain tumour, subdural haematoma, the effects of a substance, or syst

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 35 of 2019

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 neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies or death from neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having major depressive disorder at least ten years before the clinical onset of neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies;
  2. (2)
    having posttraumatic stress disorder at least ten years before the clinical onset of neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies;
  3. (3)
    being treated with an antipsychotic drug at the time of the clinical worsening of neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies;
  4. (4)
    being treated with an anticholinergic drug from the specified list of anticholinergic drugs, at the time of the clinical worsening of neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies;

    Note: specified list of anticholinergic drugs is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(3) to 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.

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 36 of 2019

2 factors

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

  1. (1)
    being treated with an antipsychotic drug at the time of the clinical worsening of neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies;
  2. (2)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(1) and 9(2) 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 neurocognitive disorder with lewy bodies. 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 — Head, brain & nerves — every Statement of Principles covering the head, brain and nerves.

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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 →