Spinal cord injury

Haemorroids - Spinal cord injury Factor

RMA definition

In the SOPs for cholelithiasis and haemorrhoids the RMA has defined a spinal cord injury as "an injury to the long tracts of the spinal cord resulting in permanent motor or sensory deficits below the level of the lesion".

General information

Spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function such as mobility or feeling.  The most common cause is a sudden traumatic blow (from a car accident, gunshot or a fall) that fractures or dislocates the vertebrae and, in so doing, damages the spinal cord.  Diseases such as polio, spina bifida and Friedreich's Ataxia can also cause a spinal cord injury.  The damage begins at the moment of injury when displaced bone fragments, disc material, or ligaments, bruise or tear into spinal cord tissue.  The spinal cord does not have to be severed in order for a loss of functioning to occur.  In fact, in most people with spinal cord injuries, the spinal cord is intact, but the damage to it results in loss of functioning.  Spinal cord injuries are very different from back injuries such as ruptured disks, spinal stenosis or pinched nerves.  A person can 'break their back or neck' yet not sustain a spinal cord injury if only the bones around the spinal cord (the vertebrae) are damaged, but the spinal cord is not affected.  In these situations, the individual may not experience paralysis after the bones are stabilized.

Establishing a history of spinal cord injury

If a person had a spinal cord injury he or she would have needed significant medical attention at that time.  Such medical treatment would normally be recorded in doctors' notes and/or hospital records.  However, if these records cannot be obtained and there is a reliable history of appropriate medical treatment at a particular time, this generally will be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence.  Seek medical advice if it is unclear whether the claimed symptoms and treatment at that time are consistent with a spinal cord injury as defined by the RMA.

LAST REVIEWED FOR CCPS 15 OCTOBER 2008.

INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTS

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS [30151]

30214 there is some evidence that a spinal cord injury may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

21295 the veteran has had a spinal cord injury at some time.

30186  the veteran has established the causal connection between the spinal cord injury and VEA service for haemorrhoids.

30188   the veteran has established the causal connection between the spinal cord injury and VEA service for the clinical onset of haemorrhoids.

30191  the veteran has established the causal connection between the spinal cord injury and operational service for the clinical onset of haemorrhoids.

or

30192  the veteran has established the causal connection between the spinal cord injury and eligible service for the clinical onset of haemorrhoids.

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.

30190   the veteran has established the causal connection between the spinal cord injury and VEA service for the clinical worsening of haemorrhoids.

30193  the veteran has established the causal connection between the spinal cord injury and operational service for the clinical worsening of haemorrhoids.

or

30194  the veteran has established the causal connection between the spinal cord injury and eligible service for the clinical worsening of haemorrhoids.

CLINICAL ONSET AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [30191]

30195 on operational service, the veteran had a spinal cord injury.

30196 on operational service, the veteran had a spinal cord injury at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

30197 the veteran's spinal cord injury on operational service at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

30198 the veteran had a spinal cord injury as a consequence of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

30199 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had a spinal cord injury at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

21304  the identified illness or injury which caused the spinal cord injury is causally related to operational service.

CLINICAL ONSET AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [30192]

30200 on eligible service, the veteran had a spinal cord injury.

30201 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran had a spinal cord injury.

30202 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran had a spinal cord injury at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

30203 the veteran's spinal cord injury on eligible service at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

30198 the veteran had a spinal cord injury as a consequence of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

30199 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had a spinal cord injury at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

21308  the identified illness or injury which caused the spinal cord injury is causally related to eligible service.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [30193]

30195 on operational service, the veteran had a spinal cord injury.

30204 on operational service, as a causal result of operational service, the veteran had a spinal cord injury.

30205 on operational service, as a causal result of operational service, the veteran had a spinal cord injury at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

30207 the veteran's spinal cord injury on operational service at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

30198 the veteran had a spinal cord injury as a consequence of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

30208 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had a spinal cord injury at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

21304  the identified illness or injury which caused the spinal cord injury is causally related to operational service.

30209 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury, which caused the spinal cord injury, is causally related.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [30194]

30200 on eligible service, the veteran had a spinal cord injury.

30201 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran had a spinal cord injury.

30210 on eligible service, as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran had a spinal cord injury at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

30212 the veteran's spinal cord injury on eligible service at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

30198 the veteran had a spinal cord injury as a consequence of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

30208 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had a spinal cord injury at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

21308  the identified illness or injury which caused the spinal cord injury is causally related to eligible service.

30213 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury, which caused the spinal cord injury, is causally related.