Diabetes mellitus - Obesity Factor
The diabetes mellitus SOP includes a factor of 'being obese'. This term is defined in the SOP. The RMA has also issued a SOP for morbid obesity. If there is a history of "being obese" but the claim for diabetes mellitus does not succeed via this factor, you will be asked to consider whether there is a history of morbid obesity, as this is an extreme form of obesity.
RMA definition of being obese
In this Statement of Principles the Repatriation Medical Authority has defined being obese as meaning "an increase in body weight by way of fat accumulation which results in a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater.
The measurement used to define "being obese" is the Body Mass Index (BMI).
W is the person’s weight in kilograms and
H is the person’s height in metres.
Establishing the presence of obesity
If it is not possible to obtain specific height/weight measurements, a medical comment that the veteran or member was obese will be sufficient. If height/weight measurements can be obtained, the BMI formula should be applied.
A history of obesity may be documented in the evidence. However, the veteran or member may not have sought medical attention and the condition may not have been recorded in medical records. In addition, doctors' and hospitals' records may have been destroyed or can no longer be obtained.
Therefore, a statement by the veteran about his or her weight at a particular time will generally be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence. This weight can then be used to calculate whether the veteran was obese at that time.
Last reviewed for CCPS 12 March 2008.
Investigative Documents
| Type | Title | PDF Format | Word Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claimant Report | Obesity | ||
| Medical Report | Obesity |
Preliminary questions [1946]
10548 the veteran has non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2).
587 the veteran has a history of obesity.
10577 the veteran has established the causal connection between the obesity and VEA service for diabetes mellitus.
10578 the veteran has established the causal connection between the obesity and VEA service for the clinical onset of diabetes mellitus.
10580 the veteran has established the causal connection between the obesity and operational service for the clinical onset of diabetes mellitus.
or
10581 the veteran has established the causal connection between the obesity and eligible service for the clinical onset of diabetes mellitus.
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.
10579 the veteran has established the causal connection between the obesity and VEA service for the clinical worsening of diabetes mellitus.
10582 the veteran has established the causal connection between the obesity and operational service for the clinical worsening of diabetes mellitus.
or
10583 the veteran has established the causal connection between the obesity and eligible service for the clinical worsening of diabetes mellitus.
Clinical onset and operational service [10580]
28202 the obesity was present for at least five years.
33976 the obesity was present for at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
591 the obesity was caused by operational service.
or
9004 the veteran has a history of morbid obesity.
33979 the morbid obesity was present for at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
9005 the morbid obesity is causally related to operational service.
Clinical onset and eligible service [10581]
33978 the obesity was present for at least ten years.
10584 the obesity was present for at least ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
3407 the obesity was caused by eligible service.
or
9004 the veteran has a history of morbid obesity.
10586 the morbid obesity was present for at least ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
9006 the morbid obesity is causally related to eligible service.
Clinical worsening and operational service [10582]
28202 the obesity was present for at least five years.
33977 the obesity was present for at least five years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.
591 the obesity was caused by operational service.
17309 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service which caused the obesity.
or
9004 the veteran has a history of morbid obesity.
33980 the morbid obesity was present for at least five years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.
9005 the morbid obesity is causally related to operational service.
9009 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the morbid obesity is causally related.
Clinical worsening and eligible service [10583]
33978 the obesity was present for at least ten years.
10585 the obesity was present for at least ten years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.
3407 the obesity was caused by eligible service.<
17310 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service which caused the obesity.
or
9004 the veteran has a history of morbid obesity.
10587 the morbid obesity was present for at least ten years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.
9006 the morbid obesity is causally related to eligible service.
9010 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the morbid obesity is causally related.