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Atomic radiation

Document
Last amended 
15 May 2015

Acquired cataract - Atomic radiation Factor

RMA Definition

The RMA defines atomic radiation as "ionising radiation excluding:

  • natural background radiation;
  • therapeutic radiation; and
  • radiation from diagnostic procedures."
Exposure to atomic radiation during VEA service

Australian service personnel with known atomic radiation exposure are:

  • POW(J)s who were in the Nagasaki area on 9 August 1945.
  • Personnel who served in or visited Hiroshima in connection with the occupation of Japan by the British Commonwealth Occupation Force from February 1946.
  • Members of the defence forces who were involved in the British Nuclear Tests (BNT) Program in Australia between 1952 and 1963.

There are no other groups of Australian service personnel with eligible VEA service who have known service-related atomic radiation exposure.

There may also be other individual service personnel who contend exposure to atomic radiation during service covered by the VEA.  Such claims should be investigated on their merits.

Further information about atomic radiation is contained in SOP Bulletin No. 106 - Atomic Radiation and SOP Bulletin No. 145 – Atomic Radiation– Update  British Nuclear Test Participants.

Last reviewed for CCPS 20 August 2008.

Investigative Documents
Type Title PDF Format Word Format
Claimant Report
Exposure to Atomic Radiation
CR9171.pdf
CR9171.docx
Preliminary questions [11801]

31124 there is some evidence that atomic radiation may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

30806  the veteran has established the causal connection between the atomic radiation and VEA service for acquired cataract.

30807   the veteran has established the causal connection between the atomic radiation and VEA service for the clinical onset of acquired cataract.

30809  the veteran has established the causal connection between the atomic radiation and operational service for the clinical onset of acquired cataract.

or

30810  the veteran has established the causal connection between the atomic radiation and eligible service for the clinical onset of acquired cataract.

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.

30808   the veteran has established the causal connection between the atomic radiation and VEA service for the clinical worsening of acquired cataract.

30811  the veteran has established the causal connection between the atomic radiation and operational service for the clinical worsening of acquired cataract.

or

30812  the veteran has established the causal connection between the atomic radiation and eligible service for the clinical worsening of acquired cataract.

Clinical onset and operational service [30809]

30813 the veteran has received a cumulative equivalent dose of 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body at some time.

30814 the veteran received a cumulative equivalent dose of 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

34286 operational service made a material contribution to the veteran receiving a cumulative equivalent dose of 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

30816 the cumulative equivalent dose of 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body, to which operational service made a material contribution, which was accumulated before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

Clinical onset and eligible service [30810]

30818 the veteran has received a cumulative equivalent dose of 1.0 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body at some time.

30819 the veteran received a cumulative equivalent dose of 1.0 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

30820 eligible service made a material contribution to the veteran receiving a cumulative equivalent dose of 1.0 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

30822 the cumulative equivalent dose of 1.0 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body, to which eligible service made a material contribution, which was accumulated before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

Clinical worsening and operational service [30811]

30813 the veteran has received a cumulative equivalent dose of 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body at some time.

30944 the veteran received a cumulative equivalent dose of 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

30815 operational service made a material contribution to the veteran receiving a cumulative equivalent dose of 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

30817 the cumulative equivalent dose of 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body, to which operational service made a material contribution, which was accumulated before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [30812]

30818 the veteran has received a cumulative equivalent dose of 1.0 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body at some time.

30821 the veteran received a cumulative equivalent dose of 1.0 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

34287 eligible service made a material contribution to the veteran receiving a cumulative equivalent dose of 1.0 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

30823 the cumulative equivalent dose of 1.0 Sievert of atomic radiation to side and site of the body, to which eligible service made a material contribution, which was accumulated before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.