Statement of Principles concerning chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 17 of 2023) (Cth)

Statement of Principles concerning CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 17 of 2023) The Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Statement of Principles under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

Dated 27 February 2023.

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 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 17 of 2023). 2 Commencement This instrument commences on 27 March 2023. 3 Authority This instrument is made under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. 4 Repeal The Statement of Principles concerning chronic obstructive pulmonary disease No. 37 of 2014 (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2014L00472) made under subsections 196B(2) and (8) of the VEA is repealed. 5 Application This instrument applies to a claim to which section 120A of the VEA or section 338 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004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 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Meaning of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: (a) means a chronic progressive inflammatory pathology occurring with different proportions of involvement of the airways, lung parenchyma and vasculature; and (b) includes: (i) chronic bronchitis; (ii) emphysema; and (iii) persistent airflow limitation; and (c) excludes: (i) asbestosis; (ii) asthma; (iii) bronchiectasis; (iv) bronchiolitis obliterans; (v) fibrosing interstitial lung disease and other fibrosing lung disease; (vi) hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis); and (vii) surgical, traumatic or localised emphysema.