A category 1A stressor

Panic Disorder - Category 1A stressor Factor

RMA definition

The RMA has defined this to mean "one or more of the following severe traumatic events:

(a)   experiencing a life-threatening event;

(b)   being subject to a serious physical attack or assault including rape and sexual molestation; or

(c)   being threatened with a weapon, being held captive, being kidnapped, or being tortured".

Case law

"Experiencing a severe stressor" has been the subject of Federal Court determinations and an Advisory Note.  Whilst a category 1A stressor is not exactly the same there are enough similarities for the following advice to be considered:

In assessing whether a particular event is a "severe stressor" as defined, it is necessary to consider both the objective nature of the event and the veteran's subjective knowledge about the event.  The authority for this approach is the Federal Court decision in Stoddart, and you should read AN02/2003 Federal Court Decision Stoddart.

LAST REVIEWED FOR CCPS 21 MAY 2010.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS [27986]

35945 the veteran has experienced a category 1A stressor at some time.

37331  the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1A stressor and VEA service for the condition under consideration.

37332   the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1A stressor and VEA service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37334  the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1A stressor and operational service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

37335  the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1A stressor and eligible service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

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.

37333   the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1A stressor and VEA service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

37336  the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1A stressor and operational service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

or

37337  the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1A stressor and eligible service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

CLINICAL ONSET AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [37334]

37340 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor.

37344 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor within the five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37348 the category 1A stressor that the veteran experienced within the five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, on operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37352 the veteran experienced the category 1A stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

37353 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor within the five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37357  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor, is causally related to operational service.

CLINICAL ONSET AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [37335]

37342 on eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor.

37343 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor.

37346 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor within the two years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37349 the category 1A stressor that the veteran experienced within the two years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, on eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37352 the veteran experienced the category 1A stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

37355 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor within the two years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37358  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor, is causally related to eligible service.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [37336]

37340 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor.

37341 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor.

37345 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the five years before its clinical worsening.

37350 the category 1A stressor that the veteran experienced within the five years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration, on operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37352 the veteran experienced the category 1A stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

37354 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the five years before its clinical worsening.

37357  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor, is causally related to operational service.

37359 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 experienced a category 1A stressor, is causally related.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [37337]

37342 on eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor.

37343 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor.

37347 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the two years before its clinical worsening.

37351 the category 1A stressor that the veteran experienced within the two years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration, on eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37352 the veteran experienced the category 1A stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

37356 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor after the clinical onset of the condition under consideration and within the two years before its clinical worsening.

37358  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor, is causally related to eligible service.

37360 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 experienced a category 1A stressor, is causally related.