SOP Bulletin No. 53

4 — th Floor AMP Place, 10 Eagle St Brisbane  3 — rd Floor Blackburn House, 199 Grenfell St Adelaide

Intranet site:  http://intranet/nat/comp/dp/Nop/dsu/dsudefault.htm

15 October 2001

THE FOLLOWING RMA SOPS ARE TO BE GAZETTED ON 17 OCTOBER, 2001

THE FOLLOWING RMA DECLARATION WAS GAZETTED ON 3 OCTOBER, 2001

IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL FEATURES

• There is a reworked definition, but the requirement is still for clinical osteoarthrosis with symptoms and signs (and not just Xray evidence).
• There are substantial changes to some of the factors in this SOP that will have a significant bearing on claims.
• The old malalignment factor has been replaced by one for disordered joint mechanics.  This factor applies only to a hip, knee or ankle joint.  Note the definition of disordered joint mechanics covers deformities in the affected limb, but also amputations involving either leg, as well as other disorders of the pelvis, lower spine and either limb.
• The 10 year heavy physical activity factor has been replaced by a new factor for lifting loads while weight bearing.  Note that there is no longer a minimum 10 year requirement and that the individual and total weight requirements are greater in the BOP SOP than in the RH SOP.  The new factor applies only to the hip and knee joint, whereas the old factor also applied to the ankle.
• There is a new factor applying to the knee joint only, for regular kneeling or squatting.
• The upper limb pneumatic tool factor and definition have been reworked to clarify that light weight pneumatic tools such as dental drills are not covered.
• There is a new factor for frostbite.

• There is a new definition, but this has no operational effect.
• The atomic radiation factor has been changed to the new format, with a radiation dose instead of the old time and place factor.
• A new factor has been added for therapeutic radiation.

• The RMA has conducted a formal investigation into multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and declared that they will not be determining a SOP.  The RMA has concluded that MCS is not a disease under Section 5D of the VEA.
• This means that a diagnosis of multiple chemical sensitivity should not be accepted.  If no other disease or injury can be diagnosed in answer to a claim for MCS then the claim should be rejected as N.I.F.
• Note that there is still an active RMA investigation under way into Gulf War Syndrome.  Under S.120A(2) of the VEA claims for this non-SOP condition cannot be determined until that investigation is finalised.

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