Haemochromatosis

Erectile dysfunction - Haemochromatosis Factor

Definition

The RMA has defined haemochromatosis as meaning “a genetic disorder of iron storage in which an inappropriate increase in intestinal iron absorption results in the deposition of excessive quantities of iron in parenchymal cells, with eventual tissue damage and functional impairment of the organs involved, especially the liver, pancreas, heart and pituitary, and excludes acquired haemosiderosis, attracting ICD code 275.0”.

Signs and symptoms

Haemochromatosis is rarely evident below age 20.  Nearly 70% of patients develop the first symptoms between ages 40 and 60.  Initial symptoms include:

• weakness, lassitude, weight loss, change in skin colour (bronzing), abdominal pain, loss of libido (hypogonadism) and symptoms of diabetes mellitus.

Signs of advanced disease include:

• hepatomegaly, spider angiomas, splenomegaly, arthropathy, ascites, cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, loss of body hair and testicular atrophy, and jaundice.

Establishing onset

If a person had haemochromatosis, significant medical attention would have been needed at some time, diagnosis and monitoring would involve blood tests and treatment includes phlebotomy (blood letting) and possibly treatment with iron chelating agents; medical advice may not have been sought until symptoms had been present for some time. If doctors' notes and hospitals' records have been destroyed or can no longer be obtained, a statement that haemochromatosis first developed at a particular time will generally be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence.  Seek medical advice if it is unclear whether the symptoms claimed to be due to haemochromatosis at that time were not due to some other condition.

Last reviewed for CCPS 5 October 2005.

Preliminary questions [22967]

21960 there is some evidence that haemochromatosis may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

8677     the veteran has haemochromatosis.

35296  the veteran has established the causal connection between haemochromatosis and VEA service for erectile dysfunction.

22968 the veteran had haemochromatosis before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

22969   the veteran has established the causal connection between haemochromatosis and VEA service for the clinical onset of erectile dysfunction.

22970  the veteran has established the causal connection between haemochromatosis and operational service for the clinical onset of erectile dysfunction.

or

22971  the veteran has established the causal connection between haemochromatosis and eligible service for the clinical onset of erectile dysfunction.

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.

35300 the veteran had haemochromatosis before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

35297   the veteran has established the causal connection between haemochromatosis and VEA service for the clinical worsening of erectile dysfunction.

35298  the veteran has established the causal connection between haemochromatosis and operational service for the clinical worsening of erectile dysfunction.

or

35299  the veteran has established the causal connection between haemochromatosis and eligible service for the clinical worsening of erectile dysfunction.

Clinical onset and operational service [22970]

10698  the haemochromatosis is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [22971]

10699  the haemochromatosis is causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [35298]

10698  the haemochromatosis is causally related to operational service.

21000 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the haemochromatosis is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [35299]

10699  the haemochromatosis is causally related to eligible service.

21001 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the haemochromatosis is causally related.