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Severe childhood abuse

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Last amended 
18 June 2015

Alcohol Use Disorder - Severe childhood abuse as a factor for alcohol or drug dependence or abuse Factor

RMA Definition

In the Statements of Principles for Alcohol Dependence and Alcohol Abuse, and Drug Dependence and Drug Abuse, "severe childhood abuse" means:

  • serious physical, emotional, psychological or sexual harm whilst a child aged under 16 years; or
  • neglect involving a serious failure to provide the necessities for health, physical and emotional development, or wellbeing whilst a child aged under 16 years;

where such serious harm or neglect has been perpetrated by a parent, a care provider, an adult who works with or around that child, or any other adult in contact with that child".

General Information

It would be difficult for a person with VEA service to meet the requirements of the Statement of Principles factors for either the onset, or clinical worsening of this condition as the person would need to have received the childhood abuse on service, before the age of 16 years, and for this to be related to their service.

The report from a specialist psychiatrist that conforms with the Repatriation Commission Guidelines for Psychiatric Compensation Claims would include a full statement about events (either prior, during or after service) described by the person that may be related to the claimed psychiatric condition.

If there is a reference to severe childhood abuse during VEA service, before the age of 16, such abuse would generally be well documented in the person's medical records, if it was reported, although you may need to specifically request to see the psychological records.  There may also be additional special investigative material if this involved a disciplinary hearing, or prosecution of other service personnel.

Last reviewed for CCPS 9 September 2009.

Preliminary questions [40568]

40465 there is some evidence that severe childhood abuse may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

40582  the veteran has established the causal connection between severe childhood abuse and VEA service for alcohol or drug dependence or abuse.

40583   the veteran has established the causal connection between severe childhood abuse and VEA service for the clinical onset of alcohol or drug dependence or abuse.

40585  the veteran has established the causal connection between severe childhood abuse and operational service for the clinical onset of alcohol or drug dependence or abuse.

or

40586  the veteran has established the causal connection between severe childhood abuse and eligible service for the clinical onset of alcohol or drug dependence or abuse.

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.

40584   the veteran has established the causal connection between severe childhood abuse and VEA service for the clinical worsening of alcohol or drug dependence or abuse.

40587  the veteran has established the causal connection between severe childhood abuse and operational service for the clinical worsening of alcohol or drug dependence or abuse.

or

40588  the veteran has established the causal connection between severe childhood abuse and eligible service for the clinical worsening of alcohol or drug dependence or abuse.

Clinical onset and operational service [40585]

40574 on operational service, the veteran was the recipient of severe childhood abuse.

40578 on operational service, the veteran was the recipient of severe childhood abuse within the ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

Clinical onset and eligible service [40586]

40575 on eligible service, the veteran was the recipient of severe childhood abuse.

40577 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran was the recipient of severe childhood abuse.

40579 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran was the recipient of severe childhood abuse within the ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

Clinical worsening and operational service [40587]

40574 on operational service, the veteran was the recipient of severe childhood abuse.

40576 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran was the recipient of severe childhood abuse.

40580 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran was the recipient of severe childhood abuse within the ten years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [40588]

40575 on eligible service, the veteran was the recipient of severe childhood abuse.

40577 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran was the recipient of severe childhood abuse.

40581 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran was the recipient of severe childhood abuse within the ten years before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.