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Damage to a soft tissue structure

Document
Last amended 
26 May 2015

Dislocation - Damage to a soft tissue structure Factor

In the Statements of Principles for dislocation the requirement is having damage to a soft tissue structure as specified, at the time of clinical onset.

The RMA has defined a soft tissue structure as specified to mean:

"a tendon, ligament or fibrocartilaginous structure that contributes to joint stability in the affected joint"

There is no definition given for damage, so this can include injury or damage as a result of a disease process.

General Information
  • ligament:  Joints occur where two bones meet.  Most of the joints in the body are freely moving joints called synovial joints.  Ligaments are elastic bands of tissue that attach to the bones and form a joint.  Ligaments provide stability and strength to the joint by restricting movement and holding the bones in place, and thereby facilitate bending, jumping and stretching.
  • tendon:  Muscles contract (shorten) to bring the ends closer together and relax (lengthen) to let the ends move apart.  Muscles are attached to bones by cord-like extensions called tendons.  In adolescents, tendons attach to a growthplate called an apopyses, and the area where the tendon attaches may be weaker than the tendon itself.  In adults, where the growthplate fuses the tendon is weaker than the bone.
  • fibrocartilaginous structure:  Some joints contain this tough, flexible and elastic type of cartilage.  It is found in the midline pelvic joint (pubic symphysis), intervertebral discs, and the covering of intervertebral discs (annulus fibrosus), menisci, and temporomandibular joints.
Establishing the onset of the damage

The history of the damage to the soft tissue structure that resulted in the dislocation should have been noted on the medical records, although medical attention may not have been sought immediately.  Therefore, a reliable history of an injury or damage to the joint that meets the relevant description at the time of the onset of the dislocation will generally be accepted unless there is contradictory evidence.  If the evidence is unclear, seek medical advice.

Last reviewed for CCPS 27 September 2014.

Investigative Documents
Type Title PDF Format Word Format
Medical Report
Development of Dislocation
MR9083.pdf
MR9083.docx
Preliminary questions [42202]

42203 there is some evidence that damage to a soft tissue structure may be a factor in the development of dislocation.

42204 the veteran had damage to a soft tissue structure to side and site of the body at some time.

42205 the veteran had the damage to a soft tissue structure to side and site of the body as defined in the Statement of Principles.

42207  the veteran has established the causal connection between the damage to a soft tissue structure as specified and VEA service for the clinical onset of dislocation.

42208   the veteran has established the causal connection the damage to a soft tissue structure as specified and operational service for the clinical onset of dislocation.

or

42209   the veteran has established the causal connection between the damage to a soft tissue structure as specified and eligible service for the clinical onset of dislocation.

Clinical onset and operational service [42208]

42210 on operational service, the veteran had the damage to a soft tissue structure as specified to the side and site of the body.

42211 on operational service, the veteran had the damage to a soft tissue structure as specified to the side and site of the body at the time of clinical onset of the dislocation.

42212 the damage to the soft tissue as specified to side and site of the body at the time of the clinical onset of the dislocation, on operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

42213 the veteran had the damage to the soft tissue structure as specified to side and site of the body due to an illness or injury which is identifiable.

42214 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had the damage to the soft tissue structure as specified to side and site of the body at the time of the clinical onset of dislocation.

42215  the identified illness or injury, which caused the damage to the soft tissue structure as specified affecting side and site of the body, is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [42209]

42216 on eligible service, the veteran had the damage to a soft tissue structure as specified to side and site of the body.

42217 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran had the damage to the soft tissue structure as specified at side and site of the body.

42218 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran had the damage to the soft tissue structure as specified at side and site of the body at the time of the clinical onset of dislocation.

42219 the damage to the soft tissue as specified to side and site of the body at the time of the clinical onset of the dislocation, on eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

42213 the veteran had the damage to the soft tissue structure as specified to side and site of the body due to an illness or injury which is identifiable.

42214 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran had the damage to the soft tissue structure as specified to side and site of the body at the time of the clinical onset of dislocation.

42309  the identified illness or injury, which caused the damage to the soft tissue structure as specified affecting side and site of the body, is causally related to eligible service.