Posttraumatic stress disorder - A category 1B stressor Factor
The RMA has defined this to mean "one of the following severe traumatic events:
- being an eyewitness to a person being killed or critically injured;
- viewing corpses or critically injured casualties as an eyewitness;
- being an eyewitness to atrocities inflicted on another person or persons;
- killing or maiming a person; or
- being an eyewitness to or participating in, the clearance of critically injured casualties".
The RMA has also defined "an eyewitness" to mean "a person who observes an incident first hand and can give direct evidence of it. This excludes a person exposed only to media coverage of the incident".
Case law
"Experiencing a severe stressor" has been the subject of Federal Court determinations and an Advisory Note. Whilst a category 1B 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 12 March 2008
Preliminary questions [39210]
35935 the veteran has experienced a category 1B stressor at some time.
39211 the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and VEA service for posttraumatic stress disorder.
39212 the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and VEA service for the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder.
39214 the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and operational service for the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder.
or
39215 the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and eligible service for the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder.
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.
39213 the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and VEA service for the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder.
39216 the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and operational service for the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder.
or
39217 the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 1B stressor and eligible service for the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder.
Clinical onset and operational service [39214]
37372 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.
39220 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
39224 the category 1B stressor that the veteran experienced before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, on operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.
or
37386 the veteran experienced the category 1B stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.
39228 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
37391 the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related to operational service.
Clinical onset and eligible service [39215]
37374 on eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.
37375 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.
39221 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
39225 the category 1B stressor that the veteran experienced before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, on eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.
or
37386 the veteran experienced the category 1B stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.
39228 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.
37392 the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related to eligible service.
Clinical worsening and operational service [39216]
37372 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.
37373 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.
39222 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.
39226 the category 1B stressor that the veteran experienced before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration, on operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.
or
37386 the veteran experienced the category 1B stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.
39229 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.
37391 the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related to operational service.
37393 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related.
Clinical worsening and eligible service [39217]
37374 on eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.
37375 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor.
39223 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.
39227 the category 1B stressor that the veteran experienced before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration, on eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.
or
37386 the veteran experienced the category 1B stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.
39229 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.
37392 the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related to eligible service.
37394 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 1B stressor, is causally related.