Toxic vestibulopathy — DVA SoP factors

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 88 of 2020

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 toxic vestibulopathy or death from toxic vestibulopathy with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

1. (1)
   taking a drug from the specified list of drugs within the 30 days before the clinical onset of toxic vestibulopathy;

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

2. (2)
   taking a drug which is associated in the individual with: (a) the development of toxic vestibulopathy within 30 days of commencing drug therapy; and (b) a decrease in the symptoms and signs of toxic vestibulopathy within three months of discontinuing or tapering drug therapy; and where treatment with the drug continued for at least the three days before the clinical onset of toxic vestibulopathy;
3. (3)
   having inner ear exposure to a chemical agent from the specified list of chemical agents within the 30 days before the clinical onset of toxic vestibulopathy;

   Note: Inner ear exposure to a chemical agent will only occur in the presence of a defect in the tympanic membrane.

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

4. (4)
   inhaling fumes from jet fuel or having cutaneous contact with jet fuel: (a) for a cumulative period of at least 2,000 hours before the clinical onset of toxic vestibulopathy; and (b) where that exposure has ceased, the clinical onset of toxic vestibulopathy has occurred within one year of cessation;

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

5. (5)
   taking a drug from the specified list of drugs within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of toxic vestibulopathy;

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

6. (6)
   taking a drug which is associated in the individual with: (a) an increase in the symptoms or signs of toxic vestibulopathy during drug therapy; and (b) a decrease in the symptoms or signs of toxic vestibulopathy within three months of discontinuing or tapering drug therapy; and where treatment with the drug continued for at least the three days before the clinical worsening of toxic vestibulopathy;
7. (7)
   having inner ear exposure to a chemical agent from the specified list of chemical agents within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of toxic vestibulopathy;

   Note: Inner ear exposure to a chemical agent will only occur in the presence of a defect in the tympanic membrane.

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

8. (8)
   inhaling fumes from jet fuel or having cutaneous contact with jet fuel: (a) for a cumulative period of at least 2,000 hours before the clinical worsening of toxic vestibulopathy; (b) and where that exposure has ceased, the clinical worsening of toxic vestibulopathy has occurred within one year of cessation;

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

9. (9)
   inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for toxic vestibulopathy;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 8(5) to 8(9) 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.