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Statement of Principles

Trigger finger — DVA SoP factors

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

Trigger finger

RH No. 39 of 2019 · BoP No. 40 of 201924 factors

Meaning of trigger finger: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, trigger finger, also known as stenosing flexor tenosynovitis, means a tendon entrapment of one or more digits, where enlargement of the tendon or narrowing of its flexor pulley sheath leads to the tendon being unable to slide smoothly within the sheath.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 39 of 2019

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 trigger finger or death from trigger finger with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    performing repetitive activities or forceful activities using the affected hand, for a cumulative period of at least 500 hours within the six months before the clinical onset of trigger finger;

    Note: forceful activities and repetitive activities are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    having acute trauma involving the affected tendon or tendon sheath, within the one year before the clinical onset of trigger finger;

    Note: Examples of acute trauma include, but are not limited to, a laceration, puncture, heavy blow, fracture and crush injury.

  3. (3)
    having carpal tunnel release involving the wrist on the affected side, within the one year before the clinical onset of trigger finger;
  4. (4)
    having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of trigger finger;
  5. (5)
    having a space occupying lesion involving the affected tendon or tendon sheath at the time of the clinical onset of trigger finger;

    Note: Examples of a space occupying lesion include, but are not limited to, amyloid deposit, gouty tophus, granuloma and post-surgery adhesion.

  6. (6)
    being treated with an aromatase inhibitor within the one year before the clinical onset of trigger finger;

    Note: Examples of aromatase inhibitors include, but are not limited to, anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole.

  7. (7)
    performing repetitive activities or forceful activities using the affected hand, for a cumulative period of at least 500 hours within the six months before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;

    Note: forceful activities and repetitive activities are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    having acute trauma involving the affected tendon or tendon sheath, within the one year before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;

    Note: Examples of acute trauma include, but are not limited to, a laceration, puncture, heavy blow, fracture and crush injury.

  9. (9)
    having carpal tunnel release involving the wrist on the affected side, within the one year before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;
  10. (10)
    having diabetes mellitus before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;
  11. (11)
    having a space occupying lesion involving the affected tendon or tendon sheath at the time of the clinical worsening of trigger finger;

    Note: Examples of a space occupying lesion include, but are not limited to, amyloid deposit, gouty tophus, granuloma and post-surgery adhesion.

  12. (12)
    being treated with an aromatase inhibitor within the one year before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;

    Note: Examples of aromatase inhibitors include, but are not limited to, anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole.

  13. (13)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for trigger finger;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 8(7) to 8(13) 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. 40 of 2019

11 factors

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

  1. (1)
    performing repetitive activities or forceful activities using the affected hand, for a cumulative period of at least 500 hours within the six months before the clinical onset of trigger finger;

    Note: forceful activities and repetitive activities are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    having acute trauma involving the affected tendon or tendon sheath, within the one year before the clinical onset of trigger finger;

    Note: Examples of acute trauma include, but are not limited to, a laceration, puncture, heavy blow, fracture and crush injury.

  3. (3)
    having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of trigger finger;
  4. (4)
    having a space occupying lesion involving the affected tendon or tendon sheath at the time of the clinical onset of trigger finger;

    Note: Examples of a space occupying lesion include, but are not limited to, amyloid deposit, gouty tophus, granuloma and post-surgery adhesion.

  5. (5)
    being treated with an aromatase inhibitor within the one year before the clinical onset of trigger finger;

    Note: Examples of aromatase inhibitors include, but are not limited to, anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole.

  6. (6)
    performing repetitive activities or forceful activities using the affected hand, for a cumulative period of at least 500 hours within the six months before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;

    Note: forceful activities and repetitive activities are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    having acute trauma involving the affected tendon or tendon sheath, within the one year before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;

    Note: Examples of acute trauma include, but are not limited, to a laceration, puncture, heavy blow, fracture and crush injury.

  8. (8)
    having diabetes mellitus before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;
  9. (9)
    having a space occupying lesion involving the affected tendon or tendon sheath at the time of the clinical worsening of trigger finger;

    Note: Examples of a space occupying lesion include, but are not limited to, amyloid deposit, gouty tophus, granuloma and post-surgery adhesion.

  10. (10)
    being treated with an aromatase inhibitor within the one year before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;

    Note: Examples of aromatase inhibitors include, but are not limited to, anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole.

  11. (11)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for trigger finger;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 8(6) to 8(11) 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 trigger finger. 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.

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Presumptive liability · from 1 July 2026

Trigger finger may be accepted without proving the link to service

Trigger finger is listed in Part 3 as a sequela attributable to any defence service, provided a specified condition has already been accepted:

  • diabetes mellitus is an accepted condition that is present before onset.

A diagnosis is still required, and the presumption may not apply where there is clear evidence of a cause other than service. "Onset" means when an injury was sustained, or when all the signs and symptoms of a disease were first present — not the date of diagnosis. Applies to claims made on or after 1 July 2026.

How presumptive liability works →

Part of DVA Claims — Hands & wrists — every Statement of Principles covering the hands and wrists.

Others in this area:

Carpal tunnel syndromeDe quervain tendinopathyDupuytren diseaseGanglionAnkylosis of Left and Right MCP JointsLeft 5th Finger - WartsLeft Hand - WartsLeft Middle Finger - WartSee all →
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 →