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Miscarriage or foetal death in-utero or stillbirth

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Last amended 
25 May 2015

Adjustment disorder - Miscarriage or foetal death in-utero or stillbirth Factor

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 Repatriation Medical Authority (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 15 October 2008.

Preliminary questions [40210]

40236 there is some evidence that a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth may be a factor in the development 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.

40237  the veteran has established the causal connection between a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth and VEA service for the clinical onset of adjustment disorder.

40238   the veteran has established the causal connection between a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth and operational service for the clinical onset of adjustment disorder.

or

40239   the veteran has established the causal connection between a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth and eligible service for the clinical onset of adjustment disorder.

Clinical onset and operational service [40238]

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.

40241 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth as a causal result of operational service within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

40243 the miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth on operational service within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration 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.

40245 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

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 [40239]

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.

40242 the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth as a causal result of eligible service within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

40244 the miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth on eligible service within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration 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.

40245 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

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.