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Statement of Principles

Seborrhoeic dermatitis — DVA SoP factors

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

Seborrhoeic dermatitis

RH No. 43 of 2021 · BoP No. 44 of 202132 factors

Meaning of seborrhoeic dermatitis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, seborrhoeic dermatitis means an exfoliative, chronic dermatitis involving areas of increased sebaceous gland activity.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 43 of 2021

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 seborrhoeic dermatitis or death from seborrhoeic dermatitis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having infection with human immunodeficiency virus before the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  2. (2)
    having infection with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 before the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  3. (3)
    having Parkinson's disease or secondary parkinsonism at the time of the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  4. (4)
    having a physical disability or psychiatric disease which significantly limits the person's ability to maintain personal hygiene of the affected area at the time of the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;

    Note: Examples of conditions which can significantly limit a person's ability to maintain personal hygiene include severe injuries, paralysis, immobility, alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder.

  5. (5)
    being immobile for at least the four weeks before the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;

    Note: Examples of being immobile include being in intensive care, having a spinal cord injury and, for facial seborrhoeic dermatitis, having facial paralysis.

  6. (6)
    having received a solid organ transplant at the time of the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  7. (7)
    taking a drug from the specified list of drugs for the treatment of cancer or autoimmune disease for at least the seven days before the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;

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

  8. (8)
    taking a drug which is associated in the individual with the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis during drug therapy and either: (a) the improvement of seborrhoeic dermatitis within three months of discontinuing or tapering drug therapy; or (b) the redevelopment of seborrhoeic dermatitis on rechallenge with the same drug; and where taking the drug continued for at least the seven days before the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  9. (9)
    having infection with human immunodeficiency virus before the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  10. (10)
    having infection with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 before the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  11. (11)
    having Parkinson's disease or secondary parkinsonism at the time of the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  12. (12)
    having a physical disability or psychiatric disease which significantly limits the person's ability to maintain personal hygiene of the affected area at the time of the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;

    Note: Examples of conditions which can significantly limit a person's ability to maintain personal hygiene include severe injuries, paralysis, immobility, alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder.

  13. (13)
    being immobile for at least the four weeks before the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;

    Note: Examples of being immobile include being in intensive care, having a spinal cord injury and, for facial seborrhoeic dermatitis, having facial paralysis.

  14. (14)
    having received a solid organ transplant at the time of the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  15. (15)
    taking a drug from the specified list of drugs for the treatment of cancer or autoimmune disease for at least the seven days before the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;

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

  16. (16)
    taking a drug which is associated in the individual with the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis during drug therapy and either: (a) the improvement of seborrhoeic dermatitis within three months of discontinuing or tapering drug therapy; or (b) the worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis on rechallenge with the same drug; and where taking the drug continued for at least the seven days before the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  17. (17)
    wearing a surgical mask or face covering intended to provide protection from human-to-human respiratory virus transmission, for a cumulative period of at least 20 hours in the seven days before the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  18. (18)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for seborrhoeic dermatitis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(9) 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. 44 of 2021

14 factors

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

  1. (1)
    having infection with human immunodeficiency virus before the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  2. (2)
    having Parkinson's disease or secondary parkinsonism at the time of the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  3. (3)
    having a physical disability or psychiatric disease which significantly limits the person's ability to maintain personal hygiene of the affected area at the time of the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;

    Note: Examples of conditions which can significantly limit a person's ability to maintain personal hygiene include severe injuries, paralysis, immobility, alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder.

  4. (4)
    being immobile for at least the four weeks before the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;

    Note: Examples of being immobile include being in intensive care, having a spinal cord injury and, for facial seborrhoeic dermatitis, having facial paralysis.

  5. (5)
    taking a drug from the specified list of drugs for the treatment of cancer or autoimmune disease for at least the seven days before the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;

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

  6. (6)
    taking a drug which is associated in the individual with the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis during drug therapy and either: (a) the improvement of seborrhoeic dermatitis within three months of discontinuing or tapering drug therapy; or (b) the redevelopment of seborrhoeic dermatitis on rechallenge with the same drug; and where taking the drug continued for at least the seven days before the clinical onset of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  7. (7)
    having infection with human immunodeficiency virus before the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  8. (8)
    having Parkinson's disease or secondary parkinsonism at the time of the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  9. (9)
    having a physical disability or psychiatric disease which significantly limits the person's ability to maintain personal hygiene of the affected area at the time of the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;

    Note: Examples of conditions which can significantly limit a person's ability to maintain personal hygiene include severe injuries, paralysis, immobility, alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder.

  10. (10)
    being immobile for at least the four weeks before the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;

    Note: Examples of being immobile include being in intensive care, having a spinal cord injury and, for facial seborrhoeic dermatitis, having facial paralysis.

  11. (11)
    taking a drug from the specified list of drugs for the treatment of cancer or autoimmune disease for at least the seven days before the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;

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

  12. (12)
    taking a drug which is associated in the individual with the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis during drug therapy and either: (a) the improvement of seborrhoeic dermatitis within three months of discontinuing or tapering drug therapy; or (b) the worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis on rechallenge with the same drug; and where taking the drug continued for at least the seven days before the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  13. (13)
    wearing a surgical mask or face covering intended to provide protection from human-to-human respiratory virus transmission, for a cumulative period of at least 20 hours in the seven days before the clinical worsening of seborrhoeic dermatitis;
  14. (14)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for seborrhoeic dermatitis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(7) to 9(14) 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 seborrhoeic dermatitis. 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 — Skin — every Statement of Principles covering the skin.

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 →