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Having a BMI of at least 30

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Last amended 
23 June 2015

Plantar fasciitis - Having a BMI of at least 30 Factor

RMA definition

Body Mass Index (BMI) has been defined by the RMA to mean

W/H2 where:

W is the person’s weight in kilograms and

H is the person’s height in metres.

[Note:  For Imperial weights and measures, BMI = wt. in lbs/(ht in inches2) x 703.1].

A person with a BMI of at least 30 is considered to be obese.

The RMA has also issued a SOP for morbid obesity.  If there is a history of having BMI of at least 30 but the claim does not succeed via this factor, you will be asked to consider whether there is a history of morbid obesity, as this is an extreme form of obesity.

Establishing the presence of obesity

If it is not possible to obtain specific height/weight measurements, a medical comment that the veteran or member was obese will be sufficient.  If height/weight measurements can be obtained, the BMI formula should be applied.

A history of obesity may be documented in the evidence.  However, the veteran or member may not have sought medical attention and the condition may not have been recorded in medical records.  In addition, doctors' and hospitals' records may have been destroyed or can no longer be obtained.  Therefore, a statement by the veteran about his or her weight at a particular time will generally be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence.  This weight can then be used to calculate the veteran's BMI.

Last reviewed for CCPS 24 May 2007.

Investigative Documents
Type Title PDF Format Word Format
Claimant Report
Obesity
CR9230.pdf
CR9230.docx
Medical Report
Obesity
MR9305.pdf
MR9305.docx
Preliminary questions [37748]

37749 there is some evidence that having a BMI of at least 30 may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

37750 the veteran has had a BMI of at least 30 at some time.

37751 the veteran has established the causal connection between having a BMI of at least 30 and VEA service for the condition under consideration.

37752   the veteran has established the causal connection between having a BMI of at least 30 and VEA service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37754  the veteran has established the causal connection between having a BMI of at least 30 and operational service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

37755  the veteran has established the causal connection between having a BMI of at least 30 and eligible service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

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.

37753   the veteran has established the causal connection between having a BMI of at least 30 and VEA service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

37756  the veteran has established the causal connection between having a BMI of at least 30 and operational service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

or

37757  the veteran has established the causal connection between having a BMI of at least 30 and eligible service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

Clinical onset and operational service [37754]

37760  the veteran had a BMI of at least 30 at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37762  the veteran's BMI of at least 30 was caused by operational service.

or

9004    the veteran has a history of morbid obesity.

9007    the veteran was morbidly obese at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

9005    the morbid obesity is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [37755]

37760  the veteran had a BMI of at least 30 at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37763  the veteran's BMI of at least 30 was caused by eligible service.

or

9004    the veteran has a history of morbid obesity.

9007    the veteran was morbidly obese at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

9006    the morbid obesity is causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [37756]

37761  the veteran had a BMI of at least 30 at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

37762  the veteran's BMI of at least 30 was caused by operational service.

37764  the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service which caused the BMI of at least 30.

or

9004    the veteran has a history of morbid obesity.

9008    the veteran was morbidly obese at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

9005    the morbid obesity is causally related to operational service.

9009    the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the morbid obesity is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [37757]

37761  the veteran had a BMI of at least 30 at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

37763  the veteran's BMI of at least 30 was caused by eligible service.

37765  the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service which caused the BMI of at least 30.

or

9004    the veteran has a history of morbid obesity.

9008    the veteran was morbidly obese at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

9006    the morbid obesity is causally related to eligible service.

9010    the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the morbid obesity is causally related.