A category 1B stressor

Ischaemic heart disease - A category 1B stressor Factor

RMA definitions

The RMA has defined this to mean "one of the following severe traumatic events:

• being an eyewitness to a person being killed or critically injured;
• viewing corpses or critically injured casualties as an eyewitness;
• being an eyewitness to atrocities inflicted on another person or persons;
• killing or maiming a person; or
• being an eyewitness to or participating in, the clearance of critically injured casualties".

The RMA has also defined "an eyewitness" to mean "a person who observes an incident first hand and can give direct evidence of it.  This excludes a person exposed only to media coverage of the incident".

Case law

"Experiencing a severe stressor" has been the subject of Federal Court determinations and an Advisory Note.  Whilst a category 1B stressor is not exactly the same there are enough similarities for the following advice to be considered:

In assessing whether a particular event is a "severe stressor" as defined, it is necessary to consider both the objective nature of the event and the veteran's subjective knowledge about the event. The authority for this approach is the Federal Court decision in Stoddart, and you should read AN02/2003 Federal Court Decision Stoddart.

Investigative Documents

Last reviewed for CCPS 27 April 2010.

Preliminary questions [38929]

38990 there is some evidence that a category 1B stressor may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

26976 the veteran suffered from angina or acute myocardial infarction or sudden death from ischaemic heart disease.

35935 the veteran has experienced a category 1B stressor at some time.

38991  the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and VEA service for ischaemic heart disease.

38992   the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and VEA service for the clinical onset of ischaemic heart disease.

38994  the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and operational service for the clinical onset of ischaemic heart disease.

or

38995  the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and eligible service for the clinical onset of ischaemic heart disease.

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.

38993   the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and VEA service for the clinical worsening of ischaemic heart disease.

38996  the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and operational service for the clinical worsening of ischaemic heart disease.

or

38997  the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and eligible service for the clinical worsening of ischaemic heart disease.

Clinical onset and operational service [38994]

37372 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.

39000 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor within the 48 hours before the clinical onset of ischaemic heart disease.

39001 the category 1B stressor that the veteran experienced within the 48 hours before the clinical onset of ischaemic heart disease, on operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37386 the veteran experienced the category 1B stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

39004 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor within the 48 hours before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37391  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [38995]

37374 on eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.

37375 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.

39002 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of ischaemic heart disease.

39003 the category 1B stressor that the veteran experienced within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of ischaemic heart disease, on eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37386 the veteran experienced the category 1B stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

39005 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37392  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [38996]

37372 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.

37373 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.

39006 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor within the 48 hours before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

39008 the category 1B stressor that the veteran experienced within the 48 hours before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration, on operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37386 the veteran experienced the category 1B stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

39010 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor within the 48 hours before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

37391  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related to operational service.

37393 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [38997]

37374 on eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.

37375 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.

39007 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

39009 the category 1B stressor that the veteran experienced within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration, on eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37386 the veteran experienced the category 1B stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

39011 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

37392  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related to eligible service.

37394 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related.