Decision Support Unit |
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4 — th Floor AMP Place, 10 Eagle St Brisbane |
2 — nd Floor Blackburn House, 199 Grenfell St Adelaide |
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Intranet site: http://intranet/nat/comp/dp/Nop/dsu/dsudefault.htm |
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SOP Bulletin |
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18 December 2000
Version 2000/12 of the Medical Knowledge Base for CCPS was released into production today. This Bulletin provides a summary of the new and amended SOPs that this version of CCPS incorporates. This Bulletin also details changes to some existing rulebases and commentary.
Myelodysplastic disorder |
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Hodgkin's disease Malignant neoplasm of the bladder |
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Obesity Seborrhoeic dermatitis |
New SOPs incorporated into CCPS
The instruments dated 12.7.00 have been incorporated. There are no remarkable features about this SOP which deals with an uncommon group of disorders of blood cell production.
SOP amendments incorporated into CCPS
The instruments dated 27.9.00 have been incorporated. There are no remarkable features about this SOP.
Malignant neoplasm of the bladder
This condition features the 'new look' atomic radiation factor. The commentary has links to SOP Bulletin No 106 which discusses atomic radiation exposure in Australian service personnel.
If needed, there are 3 questionnaires that can be used to obtain information from claimants about exposure during service to:
- atomic radiation;
- specified chemicals; and
- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).
The chemical and PAH questionnaires include the duration of exposure as specified in the reasonable hypothesis SOP. Although the questionnaires in their present form will obtain the information necessary in a balance of probability (BOP) case, if the veteran only had 'eligible' ie non-operational service, you may save the claimant some effort if you amend the questionnaires to reflect the SOP requirements for BOP cases.
This would mean changing:
- 'one year' to 'five years' in the 'specified chemicals' questionnaire;
- '10 years' to '15 years' in the PAH questionnaire.
Enhancements of CCPS rulebases and commentary
The RMA is of the view that obesity is not a disease or injury as defined in the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. Consequently a claim that is diagnosed as obesity must necessarily be refused.
CCPS will automatically recommend rejection of a claim diagnosed as obesity but it is unable to generate appropriate reasons paragraphs. The reasons paragraph headings automatically generated in such a case must not be used because they relate to the RMA's Statement about the causes of "being obese". (These paragraph headings are generated because there is a rulebase that deals with obesity when it is used as a factor for diseases such as hypertension and ischaemic heart disease.)
A suggested paragraph to replace these is contained in a new Hotword Reasons for rejecting a claim diagnosed as obesity. This Hotword is included in the commentary that is presented when confirming the diagnosis of obesity. It can also be accessed on the CCPS Research Library via the 'Confirming diagnoses' folder for Obesity. To copy this paragraph from the Hotword, hold down the shift key while clicking on the Hotword. When the Hotword has opened, highlight the text you wish to copy, click on thebutton then paste into your draft reasons.
If you are making a decision refusing a claim for obesity, you will also need to edit those parts of the reasons that refer to a Statement of Principles for Obesity, including the Information Leaflet attached to the reasons.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis
The Hotword Limited ability to maintain personal hygiene has been revised. It now explains why this factor does not include the situation where environmental conditions (such as jungle service in New Guinea) limited a person's ability to maintain personal hygiene for a limited time.
Thanks to Shane Wright from the Hobart office for raising this issue
Remember! If you are having any problems with SOPs, or SOPs in CCPS, talk to us!