Veterans Health CentreVeterans Health CentreExpert DVA Doctor
0429 146 039Book appointment

SoP Library › Non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease

Statement of Principles

Non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease. DVA can only accept a claim for Non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease 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.

How a VHC DVA claim worksAll 357 SoPsBook appointment

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.

Non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease

RH No. 52 of 2020 · BoP No. 53 of 202060 factors

Meaning of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease means atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta which causes partial or complete occlusion of the aorta and either: (a) warrants medical treatment; or (b) results in at least one of the following clinical manifestations: (i) claudication in the lower back, buttocks, hips, thighs or calves; (ii) erectile dysfunction; (iii) pallor and coldness of the lower extremities; or (iv) reduced pulsation in the femoral arteries. (3) While non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease attracts ICD-10-AM code I70.0, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic 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. 52 of 2020

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 non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease or death from non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having hypertension before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  2. (2)
    having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  3. (3)
    being obese for at least five years within the 20 years before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

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

  4. (4)
    having dyslipidaemia before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

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

  5. (5)
    where smoking has not permanently ceased, having smoked at least one pack-year of tobacco products before the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: pack-year of tobacco products is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    where smoking has permanently ceased before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease: (a) having smoked at least five pack-years of tobacco products; or (b) having smoked at least one pack-year but less than five pack- years of tobacco products, and the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease has occurred within 20 years of smoking cessation;

    Note: pack-year of tobacco products is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    where exposure to second-hand smoke has not permanently ceased, being exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 1,000 hours before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: being exposed to second-hand smoke is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    where exposure to second-hand smoke has permanently ceased before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease: (a) being exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 5,000 hours; or (b) being exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 1,000 hours but less than 5,000 hours, and the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease has occurred within five years of the last exposure to second-hand smoke;

    Note: being exposed to second-hand smoke is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  9. (9)
    having hyperhomocysteinaemia before the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  10. (10)
    an inability to undertake any physical activity greater than three METs for at least five years within the 20 years before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

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

  11. (11)
    having chronic kidney disease before the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: chronic kidney disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  12. (12)
    undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the aorta was in the field of radiation, before the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  13. (13)
    having received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.5 sievert of ionising radiation to the aorta before the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

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

  14. (14)
    an inability to consume an average of at least 100 grams per day of any combination of fruit and vegetables, for at least five consecutive years within the 20 years before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  15. (15)
    having infection with human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis C virus at the time of the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  16. (16)
    having periodontitis for at least the two years before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  17. (17)
    having an autoimmune disease before the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  18. (18)
    having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified for at least five years before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  19. (19)
    having hypertension before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  20. (20)
    having diabetes mellitus before the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  21. (21)
    being obese for at least five years within the 20 years before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

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

  22. (22)
    having dyslipidaemia before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

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

  23. (23)
    where smoking has not permanently ceased, having smoked at least one pack-year of tobacco products before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: pack-year of tobacco products is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  24. (24)
    where smoking has permanently ceased before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease: (a) having smoked at least five pack-years of tobacco products; or (b) having smoked at least one pack-year but less than five pack- years of tobacco products, and the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease has occurred within 20 years of smoking cessation;

    Note: pack-year of tobacco products is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  25. (25)
    where exposure to second-hand smoke has not permanently ceased, being exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 1,000 hours before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: being exposed to second-hand smoke is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  26. (26)
    where exposure to second-hand smoke has permanently ceased before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease: (a) being exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 5,000 hours; or (b) being exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 1,000 hours but less than 5,000 hours, and the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease has occurred within five years of the last exposure to second-hand smoke;

    Note: being exposed to second-hand smoke is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  27. (27)
    having hyperhomocysteinaemia before the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  28. (28)
    an inability to undertake any physical activity greater than three METs for at least five years within the 20 years before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

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

  29. (29)
    having chronic kidney disease before the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: chronic kidney disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  30. (30)
    undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the aorta was in the field of radiation, before the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  31. (31)
    having received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.5 sievert of ionising radiation to the aorta before the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

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

  32. (32)
    an inability to consume an average of at least 100 grams per day of any combination of fruit and vegetables, for at least five consecutive years within the 20 years before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  33. (33)
    having infection with human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis C virus at the time of the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  34. (34)
    having periodontitis for at least the two years before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  35. (35)
    having an autoimmune disease before the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  36. (36)
    having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified for at least five years before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  37. (37)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(19) to 9(37) 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. 53 of 2020

23 factors

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

  1. (1)
    having hypertension before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  2. (2)
    having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  3. (3)
    having dyslipidaemia before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

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

  4. (4)
    where smoking has not permanently ceased, having smoked at least one pack-year of tobacco products before the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: pack-year of tobacco products is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    where smoking has permanently ceased before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease: (a) having smoked at least five pack-years of tobacco products; or (b) having smoked at least one pack-year but less than five pack- years of tobacco products, and the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease has occurred within 20 years of smoking cessation;

    Note: pack-year of tobacco products is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    where exposure to second-hand smoke has not permanently ceased, being exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 1,000 hours before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: being exposed to second-hand smoke is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    where exposure to second-hand smoke has permanently ceased before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease: (a) being exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 5,000 hours; or (b) being exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 1,000 hours but less than 5,000 hours, and the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease has occurred within five years of the last exposure to second-hand smoke;

    Note: being exposed to second-hand smoke is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    having hyperhomocysteinaemia before the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  9. (9)
    having chronic kidney disease before the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: chronic kidney disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the aorta was in the field of radiation, before the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  11. (11)
    having received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 1.0 sievert of ionising radiation to the aorta before the clinical onset of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

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

  12. (12)
    having hypertension before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  13. (13)
    having diabetes mellitus before the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  14. (14)
    having dyslipidaemia before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

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

  15. (15)
    where smoking has not permanently ceased, having smoked at least one pack-year of tobacco products before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: pack-year of tobacco products is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  16. (16)
    where smoking has permanently ceased before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease: (a) having smoked at least five pack-years of tobacco products; or (b) having smoked at least one pack-year but less than five pack- years of tobacco products, and the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease has occurred within 20 years of smoking cessation;

    Note: pack-year of tobacco products is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  17. (17)
    where exposure to second-hand smoke has not permanently ceased, being exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 1,000 hours before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: being exposed to second-hand smoke is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  18. (18)
    where exposure to second-hand smoke has permanently ceased before the clinical worsening of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease: (a) being exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 5,000 hours; or (b) being exposed to second-hand smoke for at least 1,000 hours but less than 5,000 hours, and the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease has occurred within five years of the last exposure to second-hand smoke;

    Note: being exposed to second-hand smoke is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  19. (19)
    having hyperhomocysteinaemia before the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  20. (20)
    having chronic kidney disease before the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

    Note: chronic kidney disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  21. (21)
    undergoing a course of therapeutic radiation for cancer, where the aorta was in the field of radiation, before the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;
  22. (22)
    having received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 1.0 sievert of ionising radiation to the aorta before the clinical worsening of non- aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

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

  23. (23)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(12) to 9(23) 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.

About Dr Thomas Perkins

One doctor. Every report.

Founding doctor of the Veterans Health Centre in Ipswich, Queensland, and one of Australia's most experienced practitioners in veterans' medicolegal medicine.

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.

Every chart review, diagnostic assessment, impairment rating and appeal that leaves this clinic is personally overseen by Dr Perkins. No template, no locum, no hand-off.

0429 146 039 reception@vhc.org.au

Book appointment