RMA-Red

 

Amendment Statement of Principles

concerning

OSTEOARTHRITIS
(Balance of Probabilities)

(No. 77 of 2022)

The Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Amendment Statement of Principles under subsections 196B(3) and (8) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

 

Dated                                            24 June 2022

 

 

 

 

 

The Common Seal of the
Repatriation Medical Authority
was affixed to this instrument
at the direction of:

 

 

 

Professor Terence Campbell AM

Chairperson

 

 

 

Contents

1 Name

2 Commencement

3 Authority

4 Amendment

 


1               Name

This is the Amendment Statement of Principles concerning osteoarthritis (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 77 of 2022).

2               Commencement

              This instrument commences on 25 July 2022.

3               Authority

This instrument is made under subsections 196B(3) and (8) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

4               Amendment

The Statement of Principles concerning osteoarthritis (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 62 of 2017) (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2017L01442) is amended in the following manner:

 

Section

Amendment

9(12)

Replace the existing factor in subsection 9(12) with the following:

for osteoarthritis of a joint of the upper limb only, performing:

(a) forceful or repetitive activities involving the affected joint; or

(b) tasks involving repeated or sustained pinch grip or hand/power grip;

for an average of at least 100 hours per month, for a cumulative period of at least ten years within a continuous period of 15 years, within the 25 years before the clinical onset of osteoarthritis in that joint;

Note: hand/power grip, pinch grip, joint of the upper limb and repetitive activities are defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

9(35)

Replace the existing factor in subsection 9(35) with the following:

for osteoarthritis of a joint of the upper limb only, performing:

(a) forceful or repetitive activities involving the affected joint; or

(b) tasks involving repeated or sustained pinch grip or hand/power grip;

for an average of at least 100 hours per month, for a cumulative period of at least ten years within a continuous period of 15 years, within the 25 years before the clinical worsening of osteoarthritis in that joint;

Note: hand/power grip, pinch grip, joint of the upper limb and repetitive activities are defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

Schedule 1 -Dictionary

Insert the following definition of "joint of the upper limb" in alphabetical order:

joint of the upper limb means the glenohumeral joint, the acromioclavicular joint, the elbow joint or any joint of the wrist or hand.