Alcohol consumption

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease - Alcohol consumption Factor

The alcohol factors for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) require consumption of average amounts of alcohol (300 grams per week RH / 500 grams per week BOP) for at least the twelve months before the clinical onset/worsening of GORD.  As part of the investigation of this factor, you will be asked to consider whether VEA service made a material contribution to the specified amounts for the relevant period.  In considering this question you should have regard to:

• Guideline for claims assessors on smoking and alcohol related conditions and military service and, also
• AN02/2000, an Advisory Note concerning Alcohol Habituation

A material contribution by service can be made in a number of ways:

• an amount was consumed during service, as a causal result of service;
• an amount was consumed because of a service related medical condition, either during service or after service, or both.  For example, as part of alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse; or, as part of another psychiatric condition; or, as "self medication" for a medical condition.

The Repatriation Commission also agreed that arguments put to delegates that are outside the Guideline must still be considered for substance and medical and scientific support.  However, the Commission did not agree that the temporal connection of service life with alcohol consumption is enough to establish ‘habit’ as the cause of alcohol use.

“Habituation” is often an argument advanced to connect service conditions with post service alcohol consumption.

A search by the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) for sound medical scientific evidence bearing on "habituation" revealed only one epidemiological study (as at April 2000) that bears on the ‘habituation’ issue, that is, whether a “habit” of alcohol drinking continues from the service environment into the community after discharge from service.  In fact, that paper suggested that not only was there no association with military service there is some evidence that military service produces the opposite effect.

Last reviewed for CCPS 18 July 2005.

Investigative Documents

Preliminary questions [8941]

25686 the veteran has consumed alcohol at some time.

8955   the veteran has established the causal connection between the alcohol consumption and VEA service for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

8956     the veteran has established the causal connection between the alcohol consumption and VEA service for the clinical onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

8962     the veteran has established the causal connection between the alcohol consumption and operational service for the clinical onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

or

8963     the veteran has established the causal connection between the alcohol consumption and eligible service for the clinical onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

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.

8957     the veteran has established the causal connection between the alcohol consumption and VEA service for the clinical worsening of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

8964     the veteran has established the causal connection between the alcohol consumption and operational service for the clinical worsening of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

or

8965     the veteran has established the causal connection between the alcohol consumption and eligible service for the clinical worsening of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Clinical onset and operational service [8962]

34842 the veteran consumed an average of at least 300 grams of alcohol per week for at least the 12 months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

34844 operational service made a material contribution to the requirements of the Statement of Principles for alcohol consumption before the clinical onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Clinical onset and eligible service [8963]

34843 the veteran consumed an average of at least 500 grams of alcohol per week for at least the 12 months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

34845 eligible service made a material contribution to the requirements of the Statement of Principles for alcohol consumption before the clinical onset of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Clinical worsening and operational service [8964]

34846 the veteran consumed an average of at least 300 grams of alcohol per week for at least 12 months after the clinical onset and immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

34848 operational service made a material contribution to the requirements of the Statement of Principles for alcohol consumption before the clinical worsening of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

34850 the material contribution by operational service to the consumption of alcohol for a continuous period of at least 12 months immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration relates to operational service rendered after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [8965]

34847 the veteran consumed an average of at least 500 grams of alcohol per week for at least 12 months after the clinical onset and immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

34849 eligible service made a material contribution to the requirements of the Statement of Principles for alcohol consumption before the clinical worsening of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

34851 the material contribution by eligible service to the consumption of alcohol for a continuous period of at least 12 months immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration relates to eligible service rendered after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.