SoP Library › Periodic limb movement disorder

Statement of Principles

Periodic limb movement disorder — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Periodic limb movement disorder. DVA can only accept a claim for Periodic limb movement disorder 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.

Periodic limb movement disorder

RH No. 19 of 2023 · BoP No. 20 of 202326 factors

Meaning of periodic limb movement disorder: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, periodic limb movement disorder: (a) means a sleep disorder in which excessive periodic limb movements of sleep are accompanied by a clinical sleep disturbance and impaired daytime behavioural, social, physical or occupational functioning; and (b) the clinical features are not better explained by another primary sleep disorder; and (c) excludes periodic limb movements of sleep which are not accompanied by a clinical sleep disturbance or impaired daytime functioning.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 19 of 2023

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 periodic limb movement disorder or death from periodic limb movement disorder with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having chronic renal failure at the time of the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder;

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

  2. (2)
    having a spinal cord lesion at the time of the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder;

    Note: Examples of spinal cord lesions include transverse myelitis, trauma or compression of the spine and spondylotic myelopathy.

  3. (3)
    taking a drug from the specified list of drugs: (a) as prescribed for ongoing use; and (b) within the 30 days before the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder;

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

  4. (4)
    having iron deficiency at the time of the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder;

    Note: iron deficiency is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    having a cerebrovascular accident within the 3 months before the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder;
  6. (6)
    having moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the 3 months before the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder, and in the case of sustained unconsciousness following injury to the head, the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder occurred within 3 months of regaining consciousness;
  7. (7)
    having Parkinson's disease at the time of the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder;
  8. (8)
    having multiple sclerosis at the time of the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder;
  9. (9)
    having a clinically significant depressive disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder at the time of the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder;

    Note: clinically significant is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    having chronic renal failure at the time of the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder;

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

  11. (11)
    having a spinal cord lesion at the time of the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder;

    Note: Examples of spinal cord lesions include transverse myelitis, trauma or compression of the spine and spondylotic myelopathy.

  12. (12)
    taking a drug from the specified list of drugs: (a) as prescribed for ongoing use; and (b) within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder;

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

  13. (13)
    having iron deficiency at the time of the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder;

    Note: iron deficiency is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  14. (14)
    having a cerebrovascular accident within the 3 months before the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder;
  15. (15)
    having moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the 3 months before the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder, and in the case of sustained unconsciousness following injury to the head, the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder occurred within 3 months of regaining consciousness;
  16. (16)
    having Parkinson's disease at the time of the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder;
  17. (17)
    having multiple sclerosis at the time of the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder;
  18. (18)
    having a clinically significant depressive disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder;

    Note: clinically significant is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  19. (19)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for periodic limb movement disorder;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(10) to 9(19) 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. 20 of 2023

7 factors

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

  1. (1)
    having chronic renal failure at the time of the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder; Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (Balance of Probabilities) (No. BP of 2022);

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

  2. (2)
    having a spinal cord lesion at the time of the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder;

    Note: Examples of spinal cord lesions include transverse myelitis, trauma or compression of the spine and spondylotic myelopathy.

  3. (3)
    taking venlafaxine or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor as prescribed for ongoing use within the 30 days before the clinical onset of periodic limb movement disorder;

    Note: Examples of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors include citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine and sertraline.

  4. (4)
    having chronic renal failure at the time of the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder;

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

  5. (5)
    having a spinal cord lesion at the time of the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder;

    Note: Examples of spinal cord lesions include transverse myelitis, trauma or compression of the spine and spondylotic myelopathy.

  6. (6)
    taking venlafaxine or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor as prescribed for ongoing use within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of periodic limb movement disorder;

    Note: Examples of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors include citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine and sertraline.

  7. (7)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for periodic limb movement disorder;

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.

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 periodic limb movement disorder. 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.

Others in this area:

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 →