Plantar fibromatosis

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.

RH No. 21 of 2023 · BoP No. 22 of 202322 factors

Meaning of plantar fibromatosis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, plantar fibromatosis: (a) means a benign, progressive fibroproliferative disease of the plantar fascia and the digital fascia of the foot, which causes puckering and thickening of the plantar skin and nodule and cord formation in the fascia that may progress to contracture of the digits; and (b) excludes: (i) plantar fasciitis; (ii) plantar fascial tear; (iii) hyperplastic wound scarring; and (iv) soft tissue benign or malignant neoplasia.

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

(1)
having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis;
(2)
having alcoholic liver cirrhosis at the time of the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis;
(3)
having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis;
(4)
having epilepsy at the time of the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis;
(5)
taking phenobarbital or primidone regularly for the treatment of epilepsy: (a) for a continuous period of at least 2 years before the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis; and (b) where this treatment has ceased, the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis has occurred within the 1 year of cessation;
(6)
taking vemurafenib within the 2 years before the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis;
(7)
having trauma to the affected foot within the 1 year before the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis;
Note: trauma is defined in the Schedule 1 -Dictionary.
(8)
having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis;
(9)
having alcoholic liver cirrhosis at the time of the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis;
(10)
having diabetes mellitus before the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis;
(11)
having epilepsy at the time of the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis;
(12)
taking phenobarbital or primidone regularly for the treatment of epilepsy: (a) for a continuous period of at least 2 years before the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis; and (b) where this treatment has ceased, the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis has occurred within the 1 year of cessation;
(13)
taking vemurafenib within the 2 years before the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis;
(14)
having trauma to the affected foot within the 1 year before the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis;
Note: trauma is defined in the Schedule 1 -Dictionary.
(15)
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for plantar fibromatosis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 8(8) to 8(15) 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 2023

7 factors

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

(1)
having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis;
(2)
having alcoholic liver cirrhosis at the time of the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis;
(3)
having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis;
(4)
having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis;
(5)
having alcoholic liver cirrhosis at the time of the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis;
(6)
having diabetes mellitus before the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis;
(7)
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for plantar fibromatosis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 8(4) to 8(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.

Plantar fibromatosis — DVA SoP factors