The death of a significant other

The Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) definition:

'A significant other' means "a person who has a close family bond or a close personal relationship and is important or influential in one's life".

The nature of the death of the significant other can be traumatic or not.

Last reviewed for CCPS 16 September 2011.

Preliminary questions [37326]

37447 there is some evidence that the death of a significant other may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

37448 the veteran has experienced the death of a significant other at some time.

39683  the veteran has established the causal connection between the death of a significant other and VEA service for depressive disorder.

39676   the condition under consideration is major depressive episode, recurrent major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder or depressive disorder not otherwise specified.

37450   the veteran has established the causal connection between the death of a significant other and VEA service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37452  the veteran has established the causal connection between the death of a significant other and operational service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

37453  the veteran has established the causal connection between the death of a significant other and eligible service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

37451   the veteran has established the causal connection between the death of a significant other and VEA service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

37454  the veteran has established the causal connection between the death of a significant other and operational service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

or

37455  the veteran has established the causal connection between the death of a significant other and eligible service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

Clinical onset and operational service [37452]

37456 the veteran experienced the death of a significant other within the two years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37460 the death of the veteran's significant other within the two years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration was related to the veteran's operational service.

37464 the death of the veteran's significant other within the two years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, which was related to the veteran's operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

Clinical onset and eligible service [37453]

37457 the veteran experienced the death of a significant other within the one year before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37461 the death of the veteran's significant other within the one year before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration was related to the veteran's eligible service.

37465 the death of the veteran's significant other within the one year before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, which was related to the veteran's eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

Clinical worsening and operational service [37454]

37458 the veteran experienced the death of a significant other after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the two years before its clinical worsening.

37462 the death of the veteran's significant other within the two years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration was related to the veteran's operational service.

37466 the death of the veteran's significant other within the two years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration, which was related to the veteran's operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [37455]

37459 the veteran experienced the death of a significant other after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the one year before its clinical worsening.

37463 the death of the veteran's significant other within the one year before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration was related to the veteran's eligible service.

37467 the death of the veteran's significant other within the one year before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration, which was related to the veteran's eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.