Haemodialysis treatment

Definition

The RMA has defined haemodialysis treatment as the removal of certain elements from the blood by virtue of the difference in the rates of their diffusion through a semipermeable membrane by means of a haemodialyser.

Haemodialysis is used in the management of acute or chronic renal failure - ie when there is kidney failure, which may itself be due to another medical condition, such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension.  With current techniques, most patients require between 9 and 12 hours of dialysis per week, equally divided into several sessions.

Establishing a history of treatment

If a veteran or member had undergone haemodialysis he or she would have been suffering from a serious medical condition at the time.  Such a medical condition, and the haemodialysis treatment would normally be recorded in doctors' notes and/or hospital records.  However, these records may have been destroyed or can no longer be obtained.  Therefore, if there is a reliable history of haemodialysis at a particular time, this generally will be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence.  Seek medical advice if it is unclear whether the claimed treatment at that time is consistent with haemodialysis rather than some other procedure.

LAST REVIEWED FOR CCPS 21 FEBRUARY 2014.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS [17099]

17513 there is some evidence that haemodialysis treatment may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

14932 the veteran has undergone haemodialysis at some time.

14933 the veteran has undergone haemodialysis for treatment of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

17311  the veteran has established the causal connection between the haemodialysis treatment and VEA service for carpal tunnel syndrome.

17318 the veteran underwent haemodialysis treatment for the identified illness or injury for at least the year before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

17312   the veteran has established the causal connection between the haemodialysis treatment and VEA service for the clinical onset of carpal tunnel syndrome.

17314  the veteran has established the causal connection between the haemodialysis treatment and operational service for the clinical onset of carpal tunnel syndrome.

or

17315  the veteran has established the causal connection between the haemodialysis treatment and eligible service for the clinical onset of carpal tunnel syndrome.

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.

17319 the veteran underwent haemodialysis treatment for the identified illness or injury for at least the year before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

17313   the veteran has established the causal connection between the haemodialysis treatment and VEA service for the clinical worsening of carpal tunnel syndrome.

17316  the veteran has established the causal connection between the haemodialysis treatment and operational service for the clinical worsening of carpal tunnel syndrome.

or

17317  the veteran has established the causal connection between the haemodialysis treatment and eligible service for the clinical worsening of carpal tunnel syndrome.

CLINICAL ONSET AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [17314]

14942  the identified illness or injury, for which haemodialysis was undergone, is causally related to operational service.

CLINICAL ONSET AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [17315]

14943  the identified illness or injury, for which haemodialysis was undergone, is causally related to eligible service.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [17316]

14942  the identified illness or injury, for which haemodialysis was undergone, is causally related to operational service.

17320 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury, for which haemodialysis was undergone, is causally related.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [17317]

14943  the identified illness or injury, for which haemodialysis was undergone, is causally related to eligible service.

17321 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury, for which haemodialysis was undergone, is causally related.