New RMA Investigations
Lumbar spondylosis, Intervertebral disc prolapse & Alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse
The Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) has given notice that it intends to carry out an investigation in respect of the following:
- Lumbar spondylosis (no. 37 & 38 of 2005)
- Intervertebral disc prolapse (no. 39 & 40 of 2007)
- Alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse (no. 17 & 18 of 2008)
The RMA is required to find out whether there is new information available about how the condition may be contracted or death from the condition may occur; or the extent to which the condition or death from the condition may be war-caused, defence-caused, a service-injury, a service-disease or a service-death.
In relation to Lumbar spondylosis and Intervertebral disc prolapse , the RMA also intends to carry out a focussed review in respect of aircraft flight as a factor.
All submissions in relation to the above mentioned conditions must be received by the RMA at the address below no later than 1 August 2008.
Other investigations
The RMA has also given notice that it intends to carry out an investigation in respect of the following:
- Acute blepharitis (no 115 & 116 as amended by 19 & 20 of 2004)
- Chronic blepharitis (no 117 & 118 of 1995 as amended by 21 & 22 of 2004)
- Anal fissure (no 247 & 248 of 1995 as amended by 11 & 12 of 1997)
- Human immunodeficiency virus (no 1 & 2 of 1996)
- Conductive hearing loss (no 19 & 20 of 1996)
- Sensorineural hearing loss (no 29 & 30 of 2001)
- Metatarsalgia (no 39 & 40 of 1996)
- Pruritis ani (no 41 & 42 of 1996)
- Human T cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (no 51 & 52 of 1996)
- Posterior adventitial heel bursitis (no 55 & 56 of 1996)
- Acoustic neuroma (no 67 & 68 of 1996)
- Obstructive nephropathy (no 87 & 88 of 1996)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (no 103 & 104 of 1996)
- Conjunctivitis (no 111 & 112 of 1996)
- Varicocele (no 124 & 125 of 1996)
- Polyarteritis nodosa (no 157 & 158 of 1996)
- Kaposi’s sarcoma (no 159 & 160 of 1996)
- Malignant neoplasm of the nasopharynx (no 167 & 168 of 1996)
- Haemochromatosis (no 5 & 6 of 1997)
- Coeliac disease (no 17 & 18 of 1997)
- Malignant neoplasm of the cervix (no 41 & 42 of 1997)
- Acute pancreatitis (no 45 & 46 of 1997, as amended by 74 & 75 of 1998 and 41 & 42 of 2003)
- Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (no 57 & 58 of 1997)
- Internal derangement of the knee (59 of 1997 as amended by 96 of 1997 & 60 of 1997)
- Photocontact dermatitis (no 63 & 64 of 1997)
- Contact dermatitis (no 65 & 66 of 1997 as amended by 23 & 24 of 2004)
- Ross River fever (no 79 & 80 of 1997)
All submissions must be received by the RMA at the address below no later than 28 November 2008.
For persons and organisations wishing to make a submission, a copy of the notice and submission guidelines are available at www.rma.gov.au.
The Repatriation Medical Authority
8th Floor, 259 Queen Street
[GPO Box 1014]
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Telephone: (07) 3815 9404
Important note for VRB applicants and representatives
No delay to wait for a change in SoPs
The VRB will give an applicant a reasonable time to prepare their case for hearing. However, the Board will not delay a hearing to await a decision of the RMA in respect of the above mentioned investigations. The VRB must determine a matter on the law as it currently stands, which includes Statement of Principles already in force.
Exception: MRCA applications and Non-SOP Investigations
The only exception to this relates to MRCA applications where the RMA is investigating a condition where there is not already a SoP in force for the condition. In this particular circumstance, subsections 338(2) and 339(2) of the MRCA provide that the MRCC, VRB and AAT must await the making of a SoP if there is not already a SoP in force for that condition.