SOP Bulletin No. 107

Decision Support Unit

Level 8, 259 Queen St, Brisbane — 1st Floor Blackburn House, 199 Grenfell St, Adelaide

Intranet site: http://intranet/service_delivery_support/compensa…

2 — nd August 2006

RELEASE NOTES - CCPS VERSION 2006/7

Version 2006/7 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.

New SOPs incorporated into CCPS	Heart block Vascular dementia
SOP amendments incorporated into CCPS	Acute stress disorder Spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis Malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland Soft tissue sarcoma
Enhancements of CCPS rulebases and commentary	Potable water factor Mustard gas exposure during service hotword New DR for UV related conditions Glaucoma (incl SOP amendments) Drug dependence or drug abuse Serious breach of discipline hotword
Additional amendments – not noteworthy	Diabetes mellitus Malignant neoplasm of the larynx Motor neurone disease Myelodysplastic disorder Non-melanotic malignant neoplasm of the skin Paget's disease

New SOPs incorporated into CCPS

Heart block

• There are 3 drug treatment factors - drugs from specified list 1 and from list 2, and various forms of the drug chloroquine.  The first 2 drugs factors share a medical questionnaire.
• The chloroquine drug factor has a specific medical questionnaire in which a q — uestion refers to “totalling at least 1 year” (RH requirements).  T — his question does not in itself exclude the BOP requirements of “for at least 2 years” and the questionnaire requests details be provided of all treatment with the relevant drugs.
• Although t — he claimant questionnaire for physical activity greater than 6 METs has a streaming question relating to 3 months, the questionnaire requests that details of vigorous activity be provided for activity in the 6 months (a BOP requirement) before the development of first symptoms of heart block.  If the veteran or member does not have any service covered by the BOP SOP, the 6 months should be edited to 3 months (the RH requirement) before issuing the questionnaire.

For information on this SoP refer to SoP Bulletin No. 102 of 2/3/06

Vascular dementia

• The two SOP factors – cerebrovascular accident and cerebrovascular disease – have been incorporated into CCPS to reflect whether or not the claimant has had a stroke (CVA).  Th — e CVA factor is above line in CCPS as this is the most likely scenario.
• However, if there has not been a stroke the cerebrovascular disease factor should be investigated in order to establish the underlying cause of the dementia.  This advice is contained in the policy button on the contention management screen.

For information on this SoP refer to SoP Bulletin No. 104 of 8/5/06

SOP amendments incorporated into CCPS

Acute stress disorder

• CCPS has been changed to reflect the new categories of stressors.

For information on this SoP refer to SoP Bulletin No. 102 of 2/3/06

Spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis

• There is a new generic 'high impact trauma to the spine' factor (replacing 3 'high energy trauma' factors to the various sections of the spine) and placed above line in CCPS.  There is a new medical questionnaire to assist in the investigation of specific requirements.
• The new 'engaging in competitive sport' factor applies only to reasonable hypothesis cases where the onset of spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis is earlier than age 2 — 5 years.  The factor is below line because of these limitations;  however, in cases where these criteria are met (ie operational service and onset before 25 years) the factor should always be investigated.  This advice is contained in the policy button on the contention management screen.
• Some other factors apply only to certain types of spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis and it is important to consider the advice contained in the various policy buttons on the contention management screen.  If investigating any such factors, CCPS commentary provides specific advice to ensure the correct factors apply to the particular case.

For further information on this SoP refer to SoP Bulletin No. 102 of 2/3/06

Malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland

• The — re are two above line factors:  enlargement of the thyroid gland and thyroid adenoma.  These factors 'share' a medical questionnaire as thyroid adenoma may be a cause of an enlarged thyroid gland but it is not covered by that factor.  The enlargement of the thyroid gland factor may be covered by the goitre SOP.
• There are separate factors for therapeutic, atomic and ionising (from internal deposition of radioactive nuclides) radiation.  T — he therapeutic and atomic radiation factors are broader than that of ionising radiation, and therefore, the ionising radiation contention should be used only in relation to diagnostic procedures associated with nuclear medicine scans.  Th — e medical questionnaire reflects this.

• The BOP SOP contains three additional radiation factors that apply only if the exposure occurred when aged under 20 years.  These age-specific factors are not separate in CCPS.  They are incorporated within the rulebase for the related (radiation) factor with additional questions asked, if necessary.

For further information on this SoP refer to SoP Bulletin No. 102 of 2/3/06

Soft tissue sarcoma

• The ionising radiation factor includes exposure to depleted uranium (DU).  CCPS commentary refers to exposure levels from DU shrapnel embedded in the body; if any other contentions are made about exposure to DU, these should be referred to DSU for assistance.

For further information on this SoP refer to SoP Bulletin No. 104 of 8/5/06

Enhancements of CCPS rulebases and commentary

Potable water

• Commentary has been updated as outlined in recent DSU Discourse Issue 4, June 2006.

Glaucoma

• The recent recommendations regarding rulebase and commentary revisions have been implemented as per DSU Discourse Issue 4, June 2006.  In addition, the commentary and reasons paragraphs in Angle-closure glaucoma and Open-angle glaucoma have been amended to reflect the RMA's revised definition of "significant trauma to the affected eye".

Mustard gas exposure during service

• Minor update of this hotword to include a reference to the list of participants available in CLIK.

Drug dependence or drug abuse

• AN01/2005 outlined the procedure to be followed in relation to claims involving prohibited substance use during service on or after 24 October 1980.  The rulebase for the d — rug dependence o — r drug abuse SOP has now been amended so that if there is any suggestion that the drug dependence or drug abuse involved prohibited substance use during service on or after 24 October 1980, the claim must be referred to VEA Compensation Policy section before determination. 

Serious breach of discipline

• Th — is hotword has been amended to encompass t — he Advisory on Prohibited substance use and alcohol abuse within the ADF (AN01/2005).

Additional amendments

Amendments to the following incorporated conditions are included in this release. However, there are no noteworthy CCPS features:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Malignant neoplasm of the larynx
• Motor neurone disease
• Myelodysplastic disorder
• Non-melanotic malignant neoplasm of the skin
• Paget's disease

Remember! If you are having any problems with SOPs, or SOPs in CCPS, talk to us!