{"id":"F2022L01117","name":"Statement of Principles concerning mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 79 of 2022)","slug":"statement-of-principles-concerning-mature-b-cell-lymphoid-leukaemia-and-small-lymphocytic-lymphoma-b","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":441491,"registerId":"F2022L01117-fast-fetch-1775956778416","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Statement of Principles concerning mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 79 of 2022)","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n\n\n \n\nStatement of Principles\n\nconcerning\n\nMATURE B-CELL LYMPHOID LEUKAEMIA AND SMALL LYMPHOCYTIC LYMPHOMA (Balance of Probabilities)\n\n(No. 79 of 2022)\n\nThe Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Statement of Principles under subsection 196B(3) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.\n\n \n\nDated 23 August 2022\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n| The Common Seal of the Repatriation Medical Authority was affixed to this instrument at the direction of:
|\n| --- |\n|
Professor Terence Campbell AM
Chairperson
|\n\n\n \n\n \n\n\nContents\n\n1 Name\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Repeal\n\n5 Application\n\n6 Definitions\n\n7 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates\n\n8 Basis for determining the factors\n\n9 Factors that must exist\n\n10 Relationship to service\n\n11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles\n\nSchedule 1 - Dictionary\n\n1 Definitions\n\n \n\n\n\n\n1 Name\n\nThis is the Statement of Principles concerning mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 79 of 2022).\n\n2 Commencement\n\n This instrument commences on 19 September 2022.\n\n3 Authority\n\nThis instrument is made under subsection 196B(3) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.\n\n4 Repeal\n\nThe Statement of Principles concerning chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma No. 85 of 2014 (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2014L01147) made under subsection 196B(3) of the VEA is repealed.\n\n5 Application\n\nThis instrument applies to a claim to which section 120B of the VEA or section 339 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 applies.\n\n6 Definitions\n\nThe terms defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument.\n\n7 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates\n\n(1) This Statement of Principles is about mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma and death from mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma.\n\nMeaning of mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma\n\n(2) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma:\n\n(a) means a malignant neoplasm characterised by the clonal proliferation of small morphologically mature, non-functioning lymphoid cells of B-cell origin, which can present clinically as either a leukaemia or a lymphoma; and\n\n(b) includes:\n\n(i) B-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia;\n\n(ii) chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma; and\n\n(iii) hairy cell leukaemia; and\n\n(c) excludes non-Hodgkin lymphoma other than small lymphocytic lymphoma.\n\nNote: Small lymphocytic lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia are tumours of the same lymphoid cell type, and are considered to be a single disease entity with two clinical presentations.\n\nDeath from mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma\n\n(3) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma.\n\nNote: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\n8 Basis for determining the factors\n\nOn the sound medical‑scientific evidence available, the Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that it is more probable than not that mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma and death from mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans or members of the Forces under the VEA, or members under the MRCA.\n\nNote: MRCA, relevant service and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\n9 Factors that must exist\n\nAt least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma or death from mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:\n\n(1) inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma.\n\n10 Relationship to service\n\n(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.\n\n(2) The factor set out in subsection 9(1) applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma where the person's mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service.\n\n11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles\n\nIn this Statement of Principles:\n\n(1) if a factor referred to in section 9 applies in relation to a person; and\n\n(2) that factor refers to an injury or disease in respect of which a Statement of Principles has been determined under subsection 196B(3) of the VEA;\n\nthen 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.\n\n \n\n \n\nSchedule 1 - Dictionary \n\nNote: See Section 6\n\n1 Definitions\n\nIn this instrument:\n\n mature b-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma - see subsection 7(2).\n\n MRCA means the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.\n\n relevant service means:\n\n(a) eligible war service (other than operational service) under the VEA;\n\n(b) defence service (other than hazardous service and British nuclear test defence service) under the VEA; or\n\n(c) peacetime service under the MRCA.\n\nNote: MRCA and VEA are also defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\n terminal event means the proximate or ultimate cause of death and includes the following:\n\n(a) pneumonia;\n\n(b) respiratory failure;\n\n(c) cardiac arrest;\n\n(d) circulatory failure; or\n\n(e) cessation of brain function.\n\n VEA means the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.\n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument replaces No. 85 of 2014 concerning 'chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma'. The scope remains consistent — both instruments address the same disease entity using updated medical nomenclature (WHO classification changes). The 2022 version expands the named conditions slightly to explicitly include B-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia, and clarifies the exclusion of other non-Hodgkin lymphomas, but this reflects modern medical taxonomy rather than a substantive expansion of compensation scope."},"complexity_factors":["Single causal factor in section 9 (only one factor must exist, and only one is listed)","Minimal cross-referencing — only refers to definitions in Schedule 1 and other Statements of Principles in section 11","Short length — approximately 3 pages with generous white space","Only 6 defined terms in the Dictionary (mature B-cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma, MRCA, relevant service, terminal event, VEA)","Simple conditional structure in section 10(2) limiting when the single factor applies (pre-existing condition aggravation only)","No nested exceptions or complex temporal calculations"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument updates how mature B‑cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma (including chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and similar B‑cell cancers) are treated for compensation, replacing a 2014 policy. It affects veterans and current/former defence members making claims under the VEA and MRCA.\n\nIt creates a narrow service‑connection test: only inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for a pre‑existing or service‑aggravated cancer can qualify as service‑related."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument repeals the 2014 Statement (s 4) and expands the named disease entity to expressly include B‑cell prolymphocytic leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia in addition to chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (s 7(2)(b)). It also frames causation around a specific factor—lack of appropriate clinical management—linked to relevant service, with a temporal limitation where the disease did not arise out of service (ss 9, 10(2))."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to veterans’ compensation statutes (VEA and MRCA) and claim sections, requiring legal alignment with those Acts (ss 3, 5).","Medical definition and boundary-setting of the disease category, including specific inclusions and an exclusion, which requires clinical interpretation (s 7(2)).","Causation standard stated as 'balance of probabilities' but implemented via a single substantive factor (inability to obtain appropriate clinical management), adding a focused but legally significant threshold (ss 8–9).","Temporal and causal nuance limiting the factor's application where the disease was suffered or contracted before or during, but did not arise out of, service — creates an evidentiary link requirement (s 10(2)).","Interaction with other Statements of Principles where factors refer to other injuries or diseases, requiring cross-instrument application (s 11).","Repeal of the prior 2014 Statement of Principles requires claimants and decision-makers to map changes from the earlier instrument (s 4)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Statement of Principles, made by the Repatriation Medical Authority under subsection 196B(3) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act, defines “mature B‑cell lymphoid leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma” (including chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, B‑cell prolymphocytic leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia) and sets the medical test for service connection for claims under the VEA or MRCA (ss 3, 5, 7).\n\nIt adopts a ‘balance of probabilities’ causation standard and requires at least one qualifying factor—primarily an inability to obtain appropriate clinical management—that is related to a person’s relevant service (ss 8–10)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-mature-b-cell-lymphoid-leukaemia-and-small-lymphocytic-lymphoma-b","history":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-mature-b-cell-lymphoid-leukaemia-and-small-lymphocytic-lymphoma-b/history","analysis":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-mature-b-cell-lymphoid-leukaemia-and-small-lymphocytic-lymphoma-b/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-mature-b-cell-lymphoid-leukaemia-and-small-lymphocytic-lymphoma-b/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-mature-b-cell-lymphoid-leukaemia-and-small-lymphocytic-lymphoma-b/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-mature-b-cell-lymphoid-leukaemia-and-small-lymphocytic-lymphoma-b/documents"}}