Miscarriage or foetal death or stillbirth

Foetal death in-utero is death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of gestation, by either miscarriage, induced abortion or stillbirth.

Miscarriage is defined by the RMA as "spontaneous or induced expulsion of the products of conception from the uterus before the foetus is viable".  This is generally considered to be up to 20 weeks.  Miscarriage is also called a spontaneous abortion.  An incomplete miscarriage occurs when some pregnancy tissue remains inside the uterus and a dilatation and curettage (D & C) or vacuum aspiration operation may be required.

The cause of a miscarriage cannot always be determined.  The most common known causes of miscarriage in the first third of pregnancy (1st trimester) are chromosomal abnormalities, collagen vascular disease, diabetes, other hormonal problems infection, and congenital (present at birth) abnormalities of the uterus. Chromosomal abnormalities of the foetus are the most common cause of early miscarriages, including blighted ovum.

Stillbirth is the death of a foetus after the 20th week of pregnancy but before delivery.  Identifiable causes of stillbirth generally fall into one of three different categories: birth defects in the baby, problems with the placenta or umbilical cord, or maternal illnesses or conditions which may sometimes affect pregnancy.

Last reviewed for CCPS 16 September 2011.

Preliminary questions [37330]

37510 there is some evidence that a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

1169     the veteran is a woman.

37511 the veteran has had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth at some time.

37512  the veteran has established the causal connection between a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth 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.

37513   the veteran has established the causal connection between a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth and VEA service for the clinical onset of depressive disorder.

37515  the veteran has established the causal connection between a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth and operational service for the clinical onset of depressive disorder.

or

37516  the veteran has established the causal connection between a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth and eligible service for the clinical onset of depressive disorder.

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.

37514   the veteran has established the causal connection between a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth and VEA service for the clinical worsening of depressive disorder.

37517  the veteran has established the causal connection between a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth and operational service for the clinical worsening of depressive disorder.

or

37518  the veteran has established the causal connection between a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth and eligible service for the clinical worsening of depressive disorder.

Clinical onset and operational service [37515]

37521 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth on operational service.

37522 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth as a causal result of operational service.

37525 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth as a causal result of operational service within the six months before the clinical onset of depressive disorder.

37529 the miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth on operational service within the six months before the clinical onset of depressive disorder was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37535 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

37536 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth within the six months before the clinical onset of depressive disorder.

37538  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth, is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [37516]

37523 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth on eligible service.

37524 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth as a causal result of eligible service.

37526 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth as a causal result of eligible service within the six months before the clinical onset of depressive disorder.

37530 the miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth on eligible service within the six months before the clinical onset of depressive disorder was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37535 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

37536 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth within the six months before the clinical onset of depressive disorder.

37539  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth, is causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [37517]

37521 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth on operational service.

37522 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth as a causal result of operational service.

37527 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth as a causal result of operational service after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the six months before its clinical worsening.

37531 the miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth on operational service within the six months before the clinical worsening of depressive disorder was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37535 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

37537 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the six months before its clinical worsening.

37538  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth, is causally related to operational service.

37540 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth, is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [37518]

37523 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth on eligible service.

37524 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth as a causal result of eligible service.

37528 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth as a causal result of eligible service after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the six months before its clinical worsening.

37532 the miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth on eligible service within the six months before the clinical worsening of depressive disorder was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37535 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

37537 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the six months before its clinical worsening.

37539  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth, is causally related to eligible service.

37541 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth, is causally related.