Osteoarthritis — DVA SoP factors

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

1. (1)
   having inflammatory joint disease as specified, of the affected joint before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;

   Note: inflammatory joint disease as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

2. (2)
   having an infection of the affected joint as specified before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;

   Note: infection of the affected joint as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

3. (3)
   having an intra-articular fracture of the affected joint before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;

   Note: intra-articular fracture is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

4. (4)
   having haemarthrosis of the affected joint before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;

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

5. (5)
   having a depositional joint disease as specified, in the affected joint before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;

   Note: depositional joint disease as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

6. (6)
   having trauma to the affected joint within the 25 years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;

   Note: trauma to the affected joint is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

7. (7)
   having an acute articular cartilage tear of the affected joint within the 25 years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;
8. (8)
   having an acute meniscal tear of the affected knee within the 25 years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;
9. (9)
   having frostbite involving the affected joint before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;
10. (10)
    having disordered joint mechanics of the affected joint for at least five years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: disordered joint mechanics is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

11. (11)
    having necrosis of the subchondral bone near the affected joint, including that from dysbaric osteonecrosis, before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;
12. (12)
    for osteoarthritis of a joint of the upper limb only, performing: (a) forceful or repetitive activities involving the affected joint; or (b) tasks involving repeated or sustained pinch grip or hand/power grip; for an average of at least 100 hours per month, for a cumulative period of at least ten years within a continuous period of 15 years, within the 25 years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: hand/power grip, pinch grip, joint of the upper limb and repetitive activities are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

13. (13)
    for osteoarthritis of a joint of the hand, wrist or elbow joint only, using a hand-held, vibrating percussive tool or object on more days than not, for a cumulative period of at least ten years, within the 25 years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;
14. (14)
    for osteoarthritis of a joint of the lower limb only: (a) having: (i) an amputation involving either leg; or (ii) an asymmetric gait; for at least five years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint; (b) lifting loads of at least 20 kilograms while bearing weight through the affected joint: (i) to a cumulative total of at least 150 000 kilograms within any ten year period before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint; and (ii) where the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint occurs within the 25 years following that period; (c) carrying loads of at least 20 kilograms while bearing weight through the affected joint: (i) to a cumulative total of at least 3 800 hours within any ten year period before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint; and (ii) where the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint occurs within the 25 years following that period; (d) ascending or descending at least 150 stairs or rungs of a ladder per day, on more days than not, for a continuous period of at least five years, within the 25 years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint; or (e) having increased bone mineral density before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: joint of the lower limb is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

    Note: lifting loads is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

    Note: increased bone mineral density is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

15. (15)
    for osteoarthritis of a joint of the lower limb or hand joint only: (a) being overweight for at least ten years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint; (b) for males, having a waist circumference exceeding 102 centimetres for at least ten years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint; or (c) for females, having a waist circumference exceeding 88 centimetres for at least ten years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: joint of the lower limb and hand joint are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

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

16. (16)
    for osteoarthritis of a hip or knee joint only: (a) kneeling or squatting for a cumulative period of at least one hour per day, on more days than not, for a continuous period of at least two years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint; and (b) where the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint occurs within the 25 years following that period;
17. (17)
    for osteoarthritis of a knee joint only, having internal derangement of the affected joint before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;
18. (18)
    for osteoarthritis of the patello-femoral joint only, having chondromalacia patella before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;
19. (19)
    having a disorder associated with loss of pain sensation or proprioception involving the affected joint before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;
20. (20)
    having Paget's disease of bone of the affected joint before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;
21. (21)
    having acromegaly before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;

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

22. (22)
    having joint instability or dislocation of the affected joint, at least one year before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;
23. (23)
    for osteoarthritis of a hip joint only, having femoroacetabular impingement syndrome of the affected joint, before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;
24. (24)
    having inflammatory joint disease as specified, of the affected joint before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: inflammatory joint disease as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

25. (25)
    having an infection of the affected joint as specified before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: infection of the affected joint as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

26. (26)
    having an intra-articular fracture of the affected joint before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: intra-articular fracture is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

27. (27)
    having haemarthrosis of the affected joint before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;

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

28. (28)
    having a depositional joint disease as specified, in the affected joint before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: depositional joint disease as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

29. (29)
    having trauma to the affected joint within the 25 years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: trauma to the affected joint is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

30. (30)
    having an acute articular cartilage tear of the affected joint within the 25 years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;
31. (31)
    having an acute meniscal tear of the affected knee within the 25 years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;
32. (32)
    having frostbite involving the affected joint before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;
33. (33)
    having disordered joint mechanics of the affected joint for at least five years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: disordered joint mechanics is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

34. (34)
    having necrosis of the subchondral bone near the affected joint, including that from dysbaric osteonecrosis, before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;
35. (35)
    for osteoarthritis of a joint of the upper limb only, performing: (a) forceful or repetitive activities involving the affected joint; or (b) tasks involving repeated or sustained pinch grip or hand/power grip; for an average of at least 100 hours per month, for a cumulative period of at least ten years within a continuous period of 15 years, within the 25 years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: hand/power grip, pinch grip, joint of the upper limb and repetitive activities are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

36. (36)
    for osteoarthritis of a joint of the hand, wrist or elbow joint only, using a hand-held, vibrating percussive tool or object on more days than not, for a cumulative period of at least ten years, within the 25 years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;
37. (37)
    for osteoarthritis of a joint of the lower limb only: (a) having: (i) an amputation involving either leg; or (ii) an asymmetric gait; for at least five years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint; (b) lifting loads of at least 20 kilograms while bearing weight through the affected joint: (i) to a cumulative total of at least 150 000 kilograms within any ten year period before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint; and (ii) where the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint occurs within the 25 years following that period; (c) carrying loads of at least 20 kilograms while bearing weight through the affected joint: (i) to a cumulative total of at least 3 800 hours within any ten year period before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint; and (ii) where the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint occurs within the 25 years following that period; or (d) ascending or descending at least 150 stairs or rungs of a ladder per day, on more days than not, for a continuous period of at least five years, within the 25 years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: joint of the lower limb is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

    Note: lifting loads is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

38. (38)
    for osteoarthritis of a joint of the lower limb or hand joint only: (a) being overweight for at least ten years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint; (b) for males, having a waist circumference exceeding 102 centimetres for at least ten years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint; or (c) for females, having a waist circumference exceeding 88 centimetres for at least ten years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;

    Note: joint of the lower limb and hand joint are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

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

39. (39)
    for osteoarthritis of a hip or knee joint only: (a) kneeling or squatting for a cumulative period of at least one hour per day, on more days than not, for a continuous period of at two years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint; and (b) where the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint occurs within the 25 years following that period;
40. (40)
    for osteoarthritis of a knee joint only, having internal derangement of the affected joint before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;
41. (41)
    for osteoarthritis of the patello-femoral joint only, having chondromalacia patella before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;
42. (42)
    having a disorder associated with loss of pain sensation or proprioception involving the affected joint before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;
43. (43)
    having Paget's disease of bone of the affected joint before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;
44. (44)
    having acromegaly before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;

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

45. (45)
    having joint instability or dislocation of the affected joint, at least one year before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;
46. (46)
    for osteoarthritis of a hip joint only, having femoroacetabular impingement syndrome of the affected joint, before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;
47. (47)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for osteoarthritis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(24) to 9(47) 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.