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Statement of Principles

Popliteal cyst — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Popliteal cyst. DVA can only accept a claim for Popliteal cyst 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.

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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.

Popliteal cyst

RH No. 31 of 2018 · BoP No. 32 of 201812 factors

Meaning of popliteal cyst: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, popliteal cyst means a swelling in the popliteal fossa due to enlargement of the gastrocnemius-semimembranosus bursa, where the swelling is associated with clinical manifestations.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 31 of 2018

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 popliteal cyst or death from popliteal cyst with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having an injury or disease which causes synovitis of the affected knee joint at the time of the clinical onset of popliteal cyst; (a) an acute meniscal tear of the knee; (b) calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (pseudogout); (c) dialysis-related amyloidosis; (d) gout; (e) internal derangement of the knee; (f) Lyme disease; (g) osteoarthritis; (h) pigmented villonodular synovitis; (i) psoriatic arthropathy; (j) reactive arthritis; (k) rheumatoid arthritis; (l) sarcoidosis; and (m) tuberculosis;

    Note: Examples of an injury or disease which can cause synovitis of the affected knee joint include:.

  2. (2)
    having a partial or total knee replacement before the clinical onset of popliteal cyst;
  3. (3)
    having an injury or disease which causes synovitis of the affected knee joint at the time of the clinical worsening of popliteal cyst; (a) an acute meniscal tear of the knee; (b) calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (pseudogout); (c) dialysis-related amyloidosis; (d) gout; (e) internal derangement of the knee; (f) Lyme disease; (g) osteoarthritis; (h) pigmented villonodular synovitis; (i) psoriatic arthropathy; (j) reactive arthritis; (k) rheumatoid arthritis; (l) sarcoidosis; and (m) tuberculosis;

    Note: Examples of an injury or disease which can cause synovitis of the affected knee joint include:.

  4. (4)
    having a partial or total knee replacement before the clinical worsening of popliteal cyst;
  5. (5)
    for clinical worsening of a popliteal cyst manifesting as rupture of a popliteal cyst only, undertaking physical activity at a minimum intensity of five METS at the time of the clinical worsening of popliteal cyst;

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

  6. (6)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for popliteal cyst;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 8(3) to 8(6) 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. 32 of 2018

6 factors

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

  1. (1)
    having an injury or disease which causes synovitis of the affected knee joint at the time of the clinical onset of popliteal cyst; (a) an acute meniscal tear of the knee; (b) calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (pseudogout); (c) dialysis-related amyloidosis; (d) gout; (e) internal derangement of the knee; (f) Lyme disease; (g) osteoarthritis; (h) pigmented villonodular synovitis; (i) psoriatic arthropathy; (j) reactive arthritis; (k) rheumatoid arthritis; (l) sarcoidosis; and (m) tuberculosis;

    Note: Examples of an injury or disease which can cause synovitis of the affected knee joint include:.

  2. (2)
    having a partial or total knee replacement before the clinical onset of popliteal cyst;
  3. (3)
    having an injury or disease which causes synovitis of the affected knee joint at the time of the clinical worsening of popliteal cyst; (a) an acute meniscal tear of the knee; (b) calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (pseudogout); (c) dialysis-related amyloidosis; (d) gout; (e) internal derangement of the knee; (f) Lyme disease; (g) osteoarthritis; (h) pigmented villonodular synovitis; (i) psoriatic arthropathy; (j) reactive arthritis; (k) rheumatoid arthritis; (l) sarcoidosis; and (m) tuberculosis;

    Note: Examples of an injury or disease which can cause synovitis of the affected knee joint include:.

  4. (4)
    having a partial or total knee replacement before the clinical worsening of popliteal cyst;
  5. (5)
    for clinical worsening of a popliteal cyst manifesting as rupture of a popliteal cyst only, undertaking physical activity at a minimum intensity of five METS at the time of the clinical worsening of popliteal cyst;

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

  6. (6)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for popliteal cyst;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 8(3) to 8(6) 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.

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