Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01337:front:0:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01337
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 0–3388

Statement of Principles
concerning
ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY
(Reasonable Hypothesis)
(No. 86 of 2024)
The Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Statement of Principles under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

Dated                18 October 2024.

Professor Terence Campbell AM
Chairperson
by and on behalf of
The Repatriation Medical Authority

Contents
1 Name
2 Commencement
3 Authority
4 Repeal
5 Application
6 Definitions
7 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates
8 Basis for determining the factors
9 Factors that must exist
10 Relationship to service
11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles
Schedule 1 - Dictionary
1 Definitions

 1.                Name
This is the Statement of Principles concerning Achilles tendinopathy (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 86 of 2024).
 1.                Commencement
              This instrument commences on 19 November 2024.
 1.                Authority
This instrument is made under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.
 1.                Repeal
The Statement of Principles concerning Achilles tendinopathy and bursitis (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 96 of 2015) (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2015L01336) made under subsection 196B(2) of the VEA is repealed.
 1.                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.
 1.                Definitions
The terms defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument.
 1.                Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates
         1.           This Statement of Principles is about Achilles tendinopathy and death from Achilles tendinopathy.
Meaning of Achilles tendinopathy
 1.           For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, Achilles tendinopathy:
         1.           means a symptomatic inflammatory or degenerative disease of the Achilles tendon or paratendon; and
         2.           includes:
                 1.             insertional tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon;
                 2.          mid portion tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon;
                 3.        degenerative tears of the Achilles tendon; and
                 4.         Achilles enthesopathy or enthesitis.
Note: Achilles tendinopathy is also known as Achilles tendonitis or paratendonitis, Achilles tendinosis or paratendinosis. Insertional Achilles tendinopathy is less than 2 cm proximal to the calcaneus and is a separate disease from Achilles enthesopathy, and mid portion Achilles tendinopathy is 2-7 cm proximal to the calcaneal insertion.
Death from Achilles tendinopathy
 1.           For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, Achilles tendinopathy, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's Achilles tendinopathy.
Note: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.
 1.                Basis for determining the factors
The Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that there is sound medical‑scientific evidence that indicates that Achilles tendinopathy and death from Achilles tendinopathy can be related to relevant