Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022C00575:front:0:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022C00575
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 2951–6398

Statement of Principles concerning acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 33 of 2021).
     3               Authority
This instrument is made under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.
     5               Application
This instrument applies to a claim to which section 120A of the VEA or section 338 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 applies.
     6               Definitions
The terms defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument.
     7               Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates
(1)          This Statement of Principles is about acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma and death from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma.
Meaning of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma
(2)          For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma:
(a)          means a malignant neoplasm characterised by the clonal proliferation of morphologically immature, non-functioning lymphoid cells of B- or T-cell origin, which can present clinically as either a leukaemia or a lymphoma; and
(b)          excludes:
(i)            Burkitt leukaemia/lymphoma;
(ii)         adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma;
(iii)       acute undifferentiated leukaemia; and
(iv)        indolent T‑lymphoblastic proliferation.
            Note: Acute lymphoblastic lymphoma and lymphoblastic leukaemia are considered to be tumours of the same lymphoid cell type, and are considered to be a single disease entity with two clinical presentations.
Death from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma
(3)          For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma.
            Note: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
     8               Basis for determining the factors
The Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that there is sound medical‑scientific evidence that indicates that acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma and death from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans, members of Peacekeeping Forces, or members of the Forces under the VEA, or members under the MRCA.
Note: MRCA, relevant service and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
     9               Factors that must exist
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma or death from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
(1)          having received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.01 sievert of ionising radiation to the bone marrow at least one year before the clinical onset of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma;
            Note: cumulative equivalent dose is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(2)          taking an alkylating agent or a DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor for the treatment of a malignant neoplasm before the