Statement of Principles
concerning
 
SEBORRHOEIC KERATOSIS
No. 32 of 2006
 
for the purposes of the
 
Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
and
Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
 
Title
1.                  This Instrument may be cited as Statement of Principles concerning seborrhoeic keratosis No. 32 of 2006.
 
Determination
2.                  This Statement of Principles is determined by the Repatriation Medical Authority under subsection 196B(3) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA).
 
Kind of injury, disease or death
3.         (a)        This Statement of Principles is about seborrhoeic keratosis and death from seborrhoeic keratosis.
(b)              For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, “seborrhoeic keratosis” means a benign, non-invasive skin tumour composed of basaloid keratinocytes.  This lesion commonly presents as a soft, friable plaque that shows slight to marked pigmentation, and displays a “stuck on” appearance macroscopically.
(c)              Seborrhoeic keratosis attracts ICD-10-AM code L82.
(d)              In the application of this Statement of Principles, the definition of “seborrhoeic keratosis” is that given at paragraph 3(b) above.
 
Basis for determining the factors
4.         After examining the available sound medical-scientific evidence the Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that it is more probable than not on the sound medical-scientific evidence available, that the only factor that can be related to the cause of or material contribution to or aggravation of seborrhoeic keratosis or death from seborrhoeic keratosis and which can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans or members of the Forces under the VEA, or members under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (the MRCA) is that set out in clause 5.
 
Factors that must be related to service
5.         The factor that must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, in relation to the circumstances of a person’s relevant service causing or materially contributing to or aggravating seborrhoeic keratosis or death from seborrhoeic keratosis is inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for seborrhoeic keratosis.
 
Other definitions
6.         For the purposes of this Statement of Principles:
 
“death from seborrhoeic keratosis” in relation to a person includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person’s seborrhoeic keratosis;
 
“ICD-10-AM code” means a number assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), Fourth Edition, effective date of 1 July 2004, copyrighted by the National Centre for Classification in Health, Sydney, NSW, and having ISBN 1 86487 594 1;
 
“relevant service” means:
(a)       eligible war service (other than operational service) under the VEA; or
(b)              defence service (other than hazardous service) under the VEA; or
(c)              peacetime service under the MRCA;
 
“terminal event” means the proximate or ultimate cause of death and includes:
(a)        pneumonia;
(b)       respiratory failure;
(c)       cardiac arrest;
(d)       circulatory failure; or
(e)       cessation of brain function.
 
Date of effect
8.         This Instrument takes effect from 28 June 2006.
 
Dated this   nineteenth         day of             June  2006
 
 
The Common Seal of the                              )
Repatriation Medical Authority                   )
was affixed to this instrument                      )
in the presence of:                                        )
 
KEN DONALD
CHAIRPERSON