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A category 1A stressor

Document
Last amended 
1 June 2015

Cerebral ischaemia - A category 1A stressor Factor

RMA definition

The RMA has defined this to mean "one or more of the following severe traumatic events:

(a)   experiencing a life-threatening event;

(b)   being subject to a serious physical attack or assault including rape and sexual molestation; or

(c)   being threatened with a weapon, being held captive, being kidnapped, or being tortured".

Case law

"Experiencing a severe stressor" has been the subject of Federal Court determinations and an Advisory Note.  Whilst a category 1A stressor is not exactly the same there are enough similarities for the following advice to be considered:

In assessing whether a particular event is a "severe stressor" as defined, it is necessary to consider both the objective nature of the event and the veteran's subjective knowledge about the event.  The authority for this approach is the Federal Court decision in Stoddart, and you should read AN02/2003 Federal Court Decision Stoddart.

Last reviewed for CCPS 24 May 2007.

Investigative Documents
Type Title PDF Format Word Format
Claimant Report
A Category 1A Stressor - Cerebrovascular Accident
CR9131.pdf
CR9131.docx
 Preliminary questions [25367]

30471 there is some evidence that a category 1A stressor may be a factor in the development of the condition under consideration, a cerebrovascular accident.

25398 the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor within the 1 year before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, a cerebrovascular accident.

25400  the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1A stressor and operational service for the clinical onset of cerebrovascular accident.

Clinical onset and operational service [25400]

25402 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor within the 1 year before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, a cerebrovascular accident.

25403 the veteran's experience of a category 1 A stressor on operational service within the 1 year before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, a cerebrovascular accident, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

25404 the veteran experienced a category 1A stressor within the 1 year before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, a cerebrovascular accident, because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

35946  the identified illness or injury that caused the category 1A stressor is causally related to operational service.