Statement of Principles

concerning

DISTAL BICEPS BRACHII TENDINOPATHY
(Balance of Probabilities)

(No. 4 of 2025)

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

Dated    17 December 2024.

Professor Terence Campbell AM

Chairperson

by and on behalf of

The Repatriation Medical Authority

Contents

1 Name

2 Commencement

3 Authority

4 Application

5 Definitions

6 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates

7 Basis for determining the factors

8 Factors that must exist

9 Relationship to service

10 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles

Schedule 1 - Dictionary

1 Definitions

1.                Name

This is the Statement of Principles concerning distal biceps brachii tendinopathy (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 4 of 2025).

1.                Commencement

              This instrument commences on 28 January 2025.

1.                Authority

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

1.                Application

This instrument applies to a claim to which section 120B of the VEA or section 339 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 applies.

1.                Definitions

The terms defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument.

1.                Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates
   1.           This Statement of Principles is about distal biceps brachii tendinopathy and death from distal biceps brachii tendinopathy.

Meaning of distal biceps brachii tendinopathy

1.           For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, distal biceps brachii tendinopathy:
   1.           means a clinically symptomatic inflammation or degeneration of the distal biceps brachii tendon; and
   2.           includes partial or complete tears of the distal biceps brachii tendon; and
   3.           excludes biciptitoradial bursitis not accompanied by distal biceps brachii tendinopathy.

Note: Distal biceps brachii tendinopathy is also known as distal biceps brachii tendonitis/tendinitis or distal biceps brachii tendonosis/tendinosis.

Death from distal biceps brachii tendinopathy

1.           For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, distal biceps brachii tendinopathy, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's distal biceps brachii tendinopathy.

Note: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

1.                Basis for determining the factors

On the sound medical‑scientific evidence available, the Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that it is more probable than not that distal biceps brachii tendinopathy and death from distal biceps brachii tendinopathy can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans or members of the Forces under the VEA, or members under the MRCA.

Note: MRCA, relevant service and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

1.                Factors that must exist

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

1.           having sudden forceful extension of the elbow, during elbow flexion, on the affected side at the time of clinical onset;

Note: Examples of activities that can cause sudden forceful extension of the elbow, during elbow flexion, include catching a heavy load with a bent arm, a fall on an outstretched hand and contact sports.

1.           abusing anabolic steroids at the time of clinical onset;
2.           inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for distal biceps brachii tendinopathy before clinical worsening.

1.                Relationship to service
   1.           The existence in a person of any factor referred to in section 8, must be related to the relevant service rendered by the person.
   2.           The factor set out in subsection 8(3) applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, distal biceps brachii tendinopathy where the person's distal biceps brachii tendinopathy was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service.
2.            Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles

In this Statement of Principles:

1.           if a factor referred to in section 8 applies in relation to a person; and
2.           that factor refers to an injury or disease in respect of which a Statement of Principles has been determined under subsection 196B(3) of the VEA;

then the factors in that Statement of Principles apply in accordance with the terms of that Statement of Principles as in force from time to time.

Schedule 1 - Dictionary  

Note:               See Section 5

1               Definitions

In this instrument:

                             distal biceps brachii tendinopathy—see subsection 6(2).

                             MRCA means the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.

                             relevant service means:

(a)          eligible war service (other than operational service) under the VEA;

(b)          defence service (other than hazardous service and British nuclear test defence service) under the VEA; or

(c)          peacetime service under the MRCA.

Note: MRCA and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.             

                             terminal event means the proximate or ultimate cause of death and includes the following:

(a)           pneumonia;

(b)           respiratory failure;

(c)           cardiac arrest;

(d)           circulatory failure; or

(e)           cessation of brain function.

                             VEA means the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.