Veterans Health CentreVeterans Health CentreDVA Expertise
0429 146 039Book appointment

SoP Library › Patellar tendinopathy

Statement of Principles

Patellar tendinopathy — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Patellar tendinopathy. DVA can only accept a claim for Patellar tendinopathy 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 worksExample Diagnostic Assessment for Left Knee - Patellar TendinopathyAll 357 SoPsImpairment points calculatorBook 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.

Patellar tendinopathy

RH No. 21 of 2020 · BoP No. 22 of 202029 factors

Meaning of patellar tendinopathy: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, patellar tendinopathy: (a) means an acquired clinically symptomatic condition involving inflammation or degeneration of the patellar tendon; and (b) includes: (i) degenerative distal quadriceps tendon tear or rupture; (ii) degenerative patellar tendon tear or rupture; (iii) distal quadriceps tendinitis or tendinopathy; and (iv) patellar tendinitis; and (c) excludes: (i) Osgood-Schlatter disease; (ii) patellar tendon enthesopathy; (iii) patellar tendon lateral femoral condyle friction syndrome (Hoffa fat pad impingement syndrome); and (iv) Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndrome.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 21 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 patellar tendinopathy or death from patellar tendinopathy with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    running or jogging an average of at least 30 kilometres per week for at least the four weeks before the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;
  2. (2)
    undertaking weight bearing exercise involving jumping or repeated flexion and extension of the affected knee, at a minimum intensity greater than six METs for at least four hours per week, for at least the four weeks before the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;

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

  3. (3)
    increasing the frequency, duration or intensity of weight bearing activity involving the affected knee by at least 100 percent, to a minimum intensity of five METs for at least two hours per day, within the seven days before the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;

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

  4. (4)
    having direct trauma to the patellar tendon of the affected knee at the time of the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;
  5. (5)
    having gout of the patellar tendon or distal quadriceps tendon at the time of the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;
  6. (6)
    being treated with a glucocorticoid drug as specified before the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;

    Note: being treated with a glucocorticoid drug as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    being treated with a fluoroquinolone antibiotic within the 60 days before the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;
  8. (8)
    for distal quadriceps tendinopathy or rupture only, being treated with atorvastatin for at least three months within the one year before the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;
  9. (9)
    for patellar tendon or distal quadriceps tendon rupture only: (a) having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy; or (b) having chronic renal failure at the time of the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;

    Note: chronic renal failure is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    running or jogging an average of at least 30 kilometres per week for at least the four weeks before the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;
  11. (11)
    undertaking weight bearing exercise involving jumping or repeated flexion and extension of the affected knee, at a minimum intensity greater than six METs for at least four hours per week, for at least the four weeks before the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;

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

  12. (12)
    increasing the frequency, duration or intensity of weight bearing activity involving the affected knee by at least 100 percent, to a minimum intensity of five METs for at least two hours per day, within the seven days before the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;

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

  13. (13)
    having direct trauma to the patellar tendon of the affected knee at the time of the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;
  14. (14)
    having gout of the patellar tendon or distal quadriceps tendon at the time of the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;
  15. (15)
    being treated with a glucocorticoid drug as specified before the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;

    Note: being treated with a glucocorticoid drug as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  16. (16)
    being treated with a fluoroquinolone antibiotic within the 60 days before the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;
  17. (17)
    for distal quadriceps tendinopathy or rupture only, being treated with atorvastatin for at least three months within the one year before the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;
  18. (18)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for patellar tendinopathy;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(10) to 9(18) 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. 22 of 2020

11 factors

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

  1. (1)
    running or jogging an average of at least 60 kilometres per week for at least the four weeks before the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;
  2. (2)
    undertaking weight bearing exercise involving jumping or repeated flexion and extension of the affected knee, at a minimum intensity greater than six METs for at least six hours per week, for at least the four weeks before the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;

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

  3. (3)
    increasing the frequency, duration or intensity of weight bearing activity involving the affected knee by at least 100 percent, to a minimum intensity of five METs for at least four hours per day, within the seven days before the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;

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

  4. (4)
    having direct trauma to the patellar tendon of the affected knee at the time of the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;
  5. (5)
    having gout of the patellar tendon or distal quadriceps tendon at the time of the clinical onset of patellar tendinopathy;
  6. (6)
    running or jogging an average of at least 60 kilometres per week for at least the four weeks before the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;
  7. (7)
    undertaking weight bearing exercise involving jumping or repeated flexion and extension of the affected knee, at a minimum intensity greater than six METs for at least six hours per week, for at least the four weeks before the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;

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

  8. (8)
    increasing the frequency, duration or intensity of weight bearing activity involving the affected knee by at least 100 percent, to a minimum intensity of five METs for at least four hours per day, within the seven days before the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;

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

  9. (9)
    having direct trauma to the patellar tendon of the affected knee at the time of the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;
  10. (10)
    having gout of the patellar tendon or distal quadriceps tendon at the time of the clinical worsening of patellar tendinopathy;
  11. (11)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for patellar tendinopathy;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(6) to 9(11) 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 patellar tendinopathy. 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.

Work out your impairment pointsEstimate the paymentHow a PI assessment works
Presumptive liability · from 1 July 2026

Patellar tendinopathy may be accepted without proving the link to service

Patellar tendinopathy is listed in Part 2 of the determination as attributable to defence service, provided the criteria below are met.

  • Qualifying service: for more than 28 days; and excluding the first 28 days of defence service.
    Onset: during the qualifying service, or within 4 weeks after the last day of that service.

A diagnosis is still required, and the presumption may not apply where there is clear evidence of a cause other than service. "Onset" means when an injury was sustained, or when all the signs and symptoms of a disease were first present — not the date of diagnosis. Applies to claims made on or after 1 July 2026.

How presumptive liability works →

Part of DVA Claims — Knees & legs — every Statement of Principles covering the knees and legs.

Others in this area:

Acute articular cartilage tearAcute meniscal tear of the kneeChondromalacia patellaChronic exertional compartment syndrome of the lower legIliotibial band syndromeInternal derangement of the kneeKnee bursitisMedial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints)See all →
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 →