Chronic pain

The RMA has defined chronic pain as meaning "continuous or almost continuous pain, which may or may not be ameliorated by analgesic medication and which is of a level to cause interference with usual work or leisure activities or activities of daily living."

There are several factors that can cause chronic pain:

• A person can have a disease that is characteristically painful for which there is no cure.  Examples are arthritis, cancer, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy.
• There are secondary perpetuating factors that are initiated by a bodily disease and persist after the disease had resolved.  Examples include damaged sensory nerves and painful reflex muscle contraction.

A pain management plan may include medications, physiotherapy, chiropractic therapy, counselling and psychotherapy, hypnosis, acupuncture, exercise, electrical stimulation and surgery.

Last reviewed for CCPS 16 September 2011.

Preliminary questions [26046]

26047 the veteran has had chronic pain of at least three months duration at some time.

26048 the veteran's chronic pain of at least three months duration was materially contributed by an illness or injury which is identifiable.

39686  the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic pain 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.

26051   the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic pain and VEA service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

26054  the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic pain and operational service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

26055  the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic pain 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.

26053   the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic pain and VEA service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

26056  the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic pain and operational service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

or

26057  the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic pain and eligible service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

Clinical onset and operational service [26054]

26050 the identified illness or injury made a material contribution to the chronic pain of at least three months duration at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

26058  the identified illness or injury that contributed to the veteran's chronic pain of at least three months duration is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [26055]

37320 the identified illness or injury made a material contribution to chronic pain of at least six months duration.

37321 the identified illness or injury made a material contribution to the chronic pain of at least six months duration at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

26059  the identified illness or injury that contributed to the veteran's chronic pain of at least six months duration is causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [26056]

26052 the identified illness or injury made a material contribution to the chronic pain of at least three months duration at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

26058  the identified illness or injury that contributed to the veteran's chronic pain of at least three months duration is causally related to operational service.

26060 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury that caused the veteran to suffer chronic pain of at least three months duration is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [26057]

37320 the identified illness or injury made a material contribution to chronic pain of at least six months duration.

37322 the identified illness or injury made a material contribution to the chronic pain of at least six months duration at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

26059  the identified illness or injury that contributed to the veteran's chronic pain of at least six months duration is causally related to eligible service.

26061 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury that caused the veteran to suffer chronic pain of at least six months duration is causally related.