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SoP Library › Reactive arthritis

Statement of Principles

Reactive arthritis — DVA SoP factors

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

Reactive arthritis

RH No. 75 of 2018 · BoP No. 76 of 201814 factors

Meaning of reactive arthritis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, reactive arthritis: (a) means an immune-mediated arthritis of more than four weeks' duration; and (b) is usually associated with evidence of a preceding extra-articular infection; and (c) excludes: (i) acute rheumatic fever; (ii) arthritis associated with viruses which are known to cause arthritis as part of the usual spectrum of clinical manifestations (for example, Ross River virus infection, Barmah Forest virus, rubella virus, parvovirus B19); (iii) leptospirosis; (iv) Lyme disease; (v) post-streptococcal reactive arthritis; and (vi) septic arthritis.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 75 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 reactive arthritis or death from reactive arthritis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having an infection as specified within the three months before the clinical onset of reactive arthritis;

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

  2. (2)
    having infection with human immunodeficiency virus at the time of the clinical onset of reactive arthritis;
  3. (3)
    being vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine within the 30 days before the clinical onset of reactive arthritis;
  4. (4)
    having intravesical BCG therapy for malignant neoplasm of the bladder or intradermal BCG therapy for a malignant neoplasm within the 30 days before the clinical onset of reactive arthritis;

    Note: BCG therapy is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    having active mycobacterial disease within the 30 days before the clinical onset of reactive arthritis;

    Note: active mycobacterial disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    having intestinal bypass surgery within the one year before the clinical onset of reactive arthritis;
  7. (7)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for reactive arthritis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 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.

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 76 of 2018

7 factors

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

  1. (1)
    having an infection as specified within the three months before the clinical onset of reactive arthritis;

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

  2. (2)
    having infection with human immunodeficiency virus at the time of the clinical onset of reactive arthritis;
  3. (3)
    being vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine within the 30 days before the clinical onset of reactive arthritis;
  4. (4)
    having intravesical BCG therapy for malignant neoplasm of the bladder or intradermal BCG therapy for a malignant neoplasm within the 30 days before the clinical onset of reactive arthritis;

    Note: BCG therapy is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    having active mycobacterial disease within the 30 days before the clinical onset of reactive arthritis;

    Note: active mycobacterial disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    having intestinal bypass surgery within the one year before the clinical onset of reactive arthritis;
  7. (7)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for reactive arthritis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 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 reactive arthritis. 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

Part of DVA Claims — Bones & joints — every Statement of Principles covering the bones and joints.

Others in this area:

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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 →