Statement of Principles concerning hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 5 of 2022) (Cth)

Statement of Principles concerning HYPERTHYROIDISM AND THYROTOXICOSIS (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 5 of 2022) The Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Statement of Principles under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

Dated 24 December 2021

The Common Seal of the Repatriation Medical Authority was affixed to this instrument at the direction of:

Professor Terence Campbell AM Chairperson

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 hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 5 of 2022). 2 Commencement This instrument commences on 31 January 2022. 3 Authority This instrument is made under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. 4 Repeal The Statement of Principles concerning hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis No. 27 of 2013 (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2013L00723) made under subsection 196B(2) of the VEA is repealed. 5 Application This instrument applies to a claim to which section 120A of the VEA or section 338 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004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 hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis and death from hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis. Meaning of hyperthyroidism (2) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, hyperthyroidism: (a) means a functional endocrine disorder in which the thyroid gland synthesises and secretes excessive amounts of thyroid hormone sufficient to produce clinical symptoms and signs of thyroid hyperfunction or to warrant medical treatment; and (b) excludes: (i) euthyroid hyperthyroxinaemia; (ii) gestational transient thyrotoxicosis; (iii) Graves disease; (iv) sick euthyroid syndrome; and (v) toxic multinodular goitre and toxic thyroid adenoma. Note 1: Hyperthyroidism typically presents with elevated serum concentrations of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and/or triiodothyronine (T3), and usually with a reduced concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone. Note 2: Clinical symptoms and signs of thyroid hyperfunction are nonspecific and typically include anxiety, emotional lability, weakness, tremor, palpitations, heat intolerance, increased perspiration and weight loss. Note 3: Hyperthyroidism due to toxic multinodular goitre or toxic thyroid adenoma is covered by the Statements of Principles concerning goitre. In the circumstance where hyperthyroidism is due to Graves disease, it is covered by the Statements of Principles concerning Graves disease. Note 4: Hyperthyroidism may be acute or chronic. The acute form may present as a thyrotoxic crisis. Note 5: thyrotoxic crisis is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. Meaning of thyrotoxicosis (3) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, thyrotoxicosis: (a) means a functional endocrine disorder that results from the action of inappropriately high thyroid hormone levels in tissues sufficient to produce clinical symptoms and signs of thyroid hyperfunction or to warrant medical treatment; and (b) excludes: (i) euthyroid hyperthyroxinaemia; (ii) gestational transient thyrotoxicosis; (iii) Graves disease; (iv) sick euthyroid syndrome; and (v) toxic multinodular goitre and toxic thyroid adenoma. Note 1: Inappropriately high thyroid hormone levels in thyrotoxicosis can arise from endogenous or exogenous sources. Note 2: Thyrotoxicosis typically presents with elevated serum concentrations of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and/or triiodothyronine (T3), and usually with a reduced concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone. Note 3: Clinical symptoms and signs of thyroid hyperfunction are nonspecific and typically include anxiety, emotional lability, weakness, tremor, palpitations, heat intolerance, increased perspiration and weight loss. Note 4: Thyrotoxicosis due to toxic multinodular goitre or toxic thyroid adenoma is covered by the Statements of Principles concerning goitre. In the circumstance where thyrotoxicosis is a clinical manifestation of Graves disease, it is covered by the Statements of Principles concerning Graves disease. Note 5: Thyrotoxicosis may be acute or chronic. The acute form may present as a thyrotoxic crisis. Note 6: thyrotoxic crisis is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. Death from hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis (4) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis. 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 hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis and death from hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis 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 hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis or death from hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service: (1) having iodine excess within the 6 months before the clinical onset of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; Note 1: Iodine excess may be due to consuming foods, dietary supplements or medications with a high content of iodine. Note 2: iodine excess is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (2) being administered an iodine-containing radiographic contrast agent within the 6 months before the clinical onset of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; (3) taking amiodarone for a continuous period of at least 2 weeks, within the 1 year before the clinical onset of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; (4) taking a drug from the specified list of drugs within the 6 months before the clinical onset of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; Note: specified list of drugs is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (5) taking minocycline for at least the 6 months before the clinical onset of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; (6) taking a drug containing at least 10 milligrams of iodine daily for a continuous period of at least 4 weeks, within the 6 months before the clinical onset of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; (7) having a thyroid-stimulating, hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma at the time of the clinical onset of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; (8) having a chorionic gonadotrophin-secreting neoplasm at the time of the clinical onset of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; Note: chorionic gonadotrophin-secreting neoplasm is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (9) having a primary or metastatic neoplasm involving the thyroid gland at the time of the clinical onset of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; (10) for hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis first presenting as thyrotoxic crisis only, having an acute precipitating event within the 48 hours before the clinical onset of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; Note: acute precipitating event and thyrotoxic crisis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (11) for thyrotoxicosis only: (a) having struma ovarii at the time of the clinical onset of thyrotoxicosis; Note: struma ovarii is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (b) having metastatic thyroid carcinoma containing functional thyroid tissue at the time of the clinical onset of thyrotoxicosis; (c) having a form of thyroiditis from the specified list of forms of thyroiditis at the time of the clinical onset of thyrotoxicosis; Note: specified list of forms of thyroiditis is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (d) having trauma involving the thyroid gland within the 14 days before the clinical onset of thyrotoxicosis; Note: trauma involving the thyroid gland is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (e) ingesting excess thyroid hormone in medication, dietary supplements or in food containing thyroid extracts within the 3 months before the clinical onset of thyrotoxicosis; (12) having iodine excess within the 6 months before the clinical worsening of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; Note 1: Iodine excess may be due to consuming foods, dietary supplements or medications with a high content of iodine. Note 2: iodine excess is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (13) being administered an iodine-containing radiographic contrast agent within the 6 months before the clinical worsening of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; (14) taking amiodarone for a continuous period of at least 2 weeks, within the 1 year before the clinical worsening of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; (15) taking a drug from the specified list of drugs within the 6 months before the clinical worsening of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; Note: specified list of drugs is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (16) taking minocycline for at least the 6 months before the clinical worsening of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; (17) taking a drug containing at least 10 milligrams of iodine daily for a continuous period of at least 4 weeks, within the 6 months before the clinical worsening of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; (18) having a thyroid-stimulating, hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma at the time of the clinical worsening of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; (19) having a chorionic gonadotrophin-secreting neoplasm at the time of the clinical worsening of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; Note: chorionic gonadotrophin-secreting neoplasm is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (20) having a primary or metastatic neoplasm involving the thyroid gland at the time of the clinical worsening of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; (21) for thyrotoxic crisis only, having an acute precipitating event within the 48 hours before that clinical worsening of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis; Note: acute precipitating event and thyrotoxic crisis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (22) for thyrotoxicosis only: (a) having struma ovarii at the time of the clinical worsening of thyrotoxicosis; Note: struma ovarii is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (b) having metastatic thyroid carcinoma containing functional thyroid tissue at the time of the clinical worsening of thyrotoxicosis; (c) having a form of thyroiditis from the specified list of forms of thyroiditis at the time of the clinical worsening of thyrotoxicosis; Note: specified list of forms of thyroiditis is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (d) having trauma involving the thyroid gland within the 14 days before the clinical worsening of thyrotoxicosis; Note: trauma involving the thyroid gland is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (e) ingesting excess thyroid hormone in medication, dietary supplements or in food containing thyroid extracts within the 3 months before the clinical worsening of thyrotoxicosis; (23) inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis. 10 Relationship to service (1) The existence in a person of any factor referred to in section 9, must be related to the relevant service rendered by the person. (2) The factors set out in subsections 9(12) to 9(23) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis where the person's hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service. 11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles In this Statement of Principles: (1) if a factor referred to in section 9 applies in relation to a person; and (2) that factor refers to an injury or disease in respect of which a Statement of Principles has been determined under subsection 196B(2) of the VEA; then the factors in that Statement of Principles apply in accordance with the terms of that Statement of Principles as in force from time to time.