Active systemic leukaemia

Definition

Leukaemia is a cancer affecting blood and bone marrow.

There are different types of leukaemia including lymphocytic (ALL or CLL), myelogenous (AML or CML), lymphoblastic, megakaryocycotic, hairy cell, erythroleukaemia, monocytic, myelomonocytic and promyelocytic.  Leukaemias may be referred to as acute or chronic and some types of leukaemias may go into remission.

All leukaemias are systemic and for a leukaemia to have been diagnosed, it must have been active at some time.

Establishing the presence of leukaemia

Leukaemia is a serious illness and would have been specifically diagnosed following pathological or other investigations.  However, doctors' notes and/or hospital records may have been destroyed or can no longer be obtained.  Therefore, if the veteran or member gives a history of leukaemia at a particular time and relevant medical notes cannot be obtained, the statement will generally be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence.  Seek medical advice if it is unclear whether the claimed symptoms and treatment at that time can be attributed to leukaemia rather than to some other illness.

LAST REVIEWED FOR CCPS 01 JUNE 2000.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS [7630]

7646     there is some evidence that active systemic leukaemia may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

5602     the veteran has suffered from active systemic leukaemia at some time.

7631     the veteran has suffered from an identifiable type of active systemic leukaemia. [Default true]

7632     the veteran has established the causal connection between the active systemic leukaemia and VEA service for gout.

7639     the veteran suffered from the identified illness or injury, an active systemic leukaemia, within the 180 days immediately before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

7633     the veteran has established the causal connection between the active systemic leukaemia and VEA service for the clinical onset of gout.

7635     the veteran has established the causal connection between the active systemic leukaemia and operational service for the clinical onset of gout.

or

7636     the veteran has established the causal connection between the active systemic leukaemia and eligible service for the clinical onset of gout.

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.

7642     the veteran suffered from the identified illness or injury, an active systemic leukaemia, within the 180 days immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

7634     the veteran has established the causal connection between the active systemic leukaemia and VEA service for the clinical worsening of gout.

7637     the veteran has established the causal connection between the active systemic leukaemia and operational service for the clinical worsening of gout.

or

7638     the veteran has established the causal connection between the active systemic leukaemia and eligible service for the clinical worsening of gout.

CLINICAL ONSET AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [7635]

7640     the identified illness or injury, an active systemic leukaemia, is causally related to operational service.

CLINICAL ONSET AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [7636]

7641     the identified illness or injury, an active systemic leukaemia, is causally related to eligible service.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [7637]

7640     the identified illness or injury, an active systemic leukaemia, is causally related to operational service.

7643     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury, an active systemic leukaemia, is causally related.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [7638]

7641     the identified illness or injury, an active systemic leukaemia, is causally related to eligible service.

7644     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury, an active systemic leukaemia, is causally related.