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Statement of Principles

Warts — DVA SoP factors

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

Warts

RH No. 7 of 2023 · BoP No. 8 of 202318 factors

Meaning of warts: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, warts: (a) means abnormal benign hyperplastic lesions of the skin or mucous membranes caused by human papillomavirus infection; and (b) includes: (i) flat warts, filiform or digitate warts; (ii) plantar warts (including mosaic); and (iii) anogenital warts (condyloma acuminatum); and (c) excludes: (i) seborrheic keratosis; (ii) skin cancers; (iii) keratoacanthoma; (iv) skin tags; and (v) papilloma of the bladder.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 7 of 2023

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

  1. (1)
    having direct physical contact with another person's cutaneous warts, within the 20 months before the clinical onset of warts;

    Note: direct physical contact is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    for warts affecting the cervix uteri only, having penetrative sexual intercourse with a person with genital warts within the 20 months before the clinical onset of warts;
  3. (3)
    for warts affecting the anogenital region only, having contact with the anogenital warts of another person within the 20 months before the clinical onset of warts;
  4. (4)
    for warts affecting the oral cavity or the larynx only, having oral sex with a person with anogenital warts within the 20 months before the clinical onset of warts;
  5. (5)
    for plantar warts only, using communal showering or bathing facilities within the 20 months before the clinical onset of warts;
  6. (6)
    for warts on the hands only, using shared gloves or shared utensils on more days than not for 3 months in the preparation of meat, poultry or fish for consumption, within the 20 months before the clinical onset of warts;
  7. (7)
    being in an immunocompromised state as specified at the time of the clinical onset of warts;

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

  8. (8)
    being in an immunocompromised state as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of warts;

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

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

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

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 8 of 2023

9 factors

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

  1. (1)
    having direct physical contact with another person's cutaneous warts, within the 12 months before the clinical onset of warts;

    Note: direct physical contact is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    for warts affecting the cervix uteri only, having penetrative sexual intercourse with a person with genital warts within the 12 months before the clinical onset of warts;
  3. (3)
    for warts affecting the anogenital region only, having contact with the anogenital warts of another person within the 12 months before the clinical onset of warts;
  4. (4)
    for warts affecting the oral cavity or the larynx only, having oral sex with a person with anogenital warts within the 12 months before the clinical onset of warts;
  5. (5)
    for plantar warts only, using communal showering or bathing facilities within the 12 months before the clinical onset of warts;
  6. (6)
    for warts on the hands only, using shared gloves or shared utensils on more days than not for 3 months in the preparation of meat, poultry or fish for consumption, within the 12 months before the clinical onset of warts;
  7. (7)
    being in an immunocompromised state as specified at the time of the clinical onset of warts;

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

  8. (8)
    being in an immunocompromised state as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of warts;

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

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

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

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 warts. 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 →