Atomic radiation

Non melanotic malignant neoplasm of the skin- Atomic Radiation Factor

RMA definition

The RMA defines atomic radiation as "ionising radiation excluding:

• natural background radiation;
• therapeutic radiation; and
• radiation from diagnostic procedures."

Exposure to atomic radiation during VEA service

Australian service personnel with known atomic radiation exposure are:

• POW(J)s who were in the Nagasaki area on 9 August 1945.
• Personnel who served in or visited Hiroshima in connection with the occupation of Japan by the British Commonwealth Occupation Force from February 1946.
• Members of the defence forces who were involved in the British Nuclear Tests (BNT) Program in Australia between 1952 and 1963.

There are no other groups of Australian service personnel with eligible VEA service who have known service-related atomic radiation exposure.

There may also be other individual service personnel who contend exposure to atomic radiation during service covered by the VEA.  Such claims should be investigated on their merits.

Further information about atomic radiation is contained in: SOP bulletin No. 106 - Atomic Radiation and SOP bulletin No. 145 – Atomic Radiation – Update  British Nuclear Test Participants.

Investigative Documents

Preliminary questions [31270]

30275 there is some evidence that atomic radiation may be a factor in the development of the condition under consideration.

31267  the veteran has established the causal connection between atomic radiation and VEA service for the clinical onset of non-melanotic malignant neoplasm of the skin.

31268   the veteran has established the causal connection between atomic radiation and operational service for the clinical onset of non-melanotic malignant neoplasm of the skin.

or

31269   the veteran has established the causal connection between atomic radiation and eligible service for the clinical onset of non-melanotic malignant neoplasm of the skin.

Clinical onset and operational service [31268]

31266 the veteran received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.05 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body at some time.

31271 the veteran received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.05 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body where this dose was accumulated at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

31272 operational service made a material contribution to the veteran receiving a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.05 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body where this dose was accumulated at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

31273 the cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.05 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body, to which operational service made a material contribution and the dose was accumulated at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

Clinical onset and eligible service [31269]

31274 the veteran received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body at some time.

31275 the veteran received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body where this dose was accumulated at least ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

31276 eligible service made a material contribution to the veteran receiving a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body where this dose was accumulated at least ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

31277 the cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body, to which eligible service made a material contribution and the dose was accumulated at least ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.