A general medical condition as specified

(1)  As a cause of depressive disorder, this SOP factor applies only for:

• mood disorder due to a general medical condition with depressive features, or with major depressive-like episodes.

SOP factor requirements

The causal factor requires "having a having an endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, infectious, or neurological disorder, where the general medical condition is a direct physiological cause of the depression at the time of the clinical onset of depressive disorder".

RMA definition

"the general medical condition is a direct physiological cause of the depression means signs or symptoms of depressed mood are directly related to the pathological process of the general medical condition, and:

(a)   the depressive symptoms have a close temporal relationship with the onset or exacerbation of the general medical condition, and the depressive symptoms developed at the same time or after the onset of the general medical condition;

(b)   treatment which causes remission of the general medical condition also results in remission of the depressive symptoms; or

(c)   features of the depressive disorder, such as an unusual age of onset, a qualitative difference in symptoms, or disproportionately severe or unusual symptoms, are inconsistent with a primary diagnosis of any of the mood spectrum disorders".

General information

The application of this factor is very much a diagnostic issue and the psychiatric report that conforms with the Repatriation Commission Guidelines for Psychiatric Compensation Claims will include details of the general medical condition.

Directly related to the pathological process of the general medical condition means, for example, that the medical condition causes an excess or deficiency of a hormone, metabolite or electrolyte that impacts on brain function, or alternatively, directly effects neurological function.  Examples include:

• excess thyroid hormone in hyperthyroidism or decreased thyroid hormone in hypothyroidism;
• excess cortisol in Cushing's syndrome;
• excess calcium in kidney failure or from certain cancers;
• neurological effects of Parkinson's disease.

(2)  As an aggravating factor for depressive disorder, this factor applies to:

• all types of depressive disorder.

SOP factor requirements

The aggravation factor requires "having a medical condition as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of depressive disorder".

RMA definition

"a medical condition as specified means an endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, infectious, or neurological condition, that causes symptoms consistent with depression, as a direct physiological consequence of the condition".

General information

The psychiatric report that conforms with the Repatriation Commission Guidelines for Psychiatric Compensation Claims will include details of any medical condition that causes depressive symptoms as a direct physiological consequence.

A direct physiological consequence of the condition means, for example, that the medical condition causes an excess or deficiency of a hormone, metabolite or electrolyte that impacts on brain function, or alternatively, directly effects neurological function.  Examples include:

• excess thyroid hormone in hyperthyroidism or decreased thyroid hormone in hypothyroidism;
• excess cortisol in Cushing's syndrome;
• excess calcium in kidney failure or from certain cancers;
• neurological effects of Parkinson's disease.

Last reviewed for CCPS 16 September 2011.

Preliminary questions [39699]

39706 there is some evidence that a general medical condition as specified may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

39798  the veteran has established the causal connection between a general medical condition as specified and VEA service for depressive disorder.

39678   the condition under consideration is mood disorder due to a general medical condition with depressive features, or with major depressive-like episodes.

39805   the veteran had a medical condition as specified at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

39799   the veteran has established the causal connection between a general medical condition as specified and VEA service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

39801  the veteran has established the causal connection between a general medical condition as specified and operational service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

39802  the veteran has established the causal connection between a general medical condition as specified 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.

39806 the veteran had a medical condition as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

39800   the veteran has established the causal connection between a general medical condition as specified and VEA service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

39803  the veteran has established the causal connection between a general medical condition as specified and operational service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

or

39804  the veteran has established the causal connection between a general medical condition as specified and eligible service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

Clinical onset and operational service [39801]

39807 the medical condition as specified at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration was caused by operational service.

39811 the medical condition as specified at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, which was caused by operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

Clinical onset and eligible service [39802]

39808 the medical condition as specified at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration was caused by eligible service.

39812 the medical condition as specified at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, which was caused by eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

Clinical worsening and operational service [39803]

39809 the medical condition as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration was caused by operational service.

39813 the medical condition as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration, which was caused by operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [39804]

39810 the medical condition as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration was caused by eligible service.

39814 the medical condition as specified at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration, which was caused by eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.