{"id":"F2019L00227","name":"Statement of Principles concerning trigger finger (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 39 of 2019)","slug":"statement-of-principles-concerning-trigger-finger-reasonable-hypothesis-no-39-of-2019","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":439942,"registerId":"F2019L00227-fast-fetch-1775955770207","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Statement of Principles concerning trigger finger (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 39 of 2019)","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 20.2\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n\n\n \n\nStatement of Principles\n\nconcerning\n\nTRIGGER FINGER (Reasonable Hypothesis)\n\n(No. 39 of 2019)\n\nThe Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Statement of Principles under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.\n\n \n\nDated 1 March 2019\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 Nicholas Saunders AO
Chairperson
|\n\n\n \n\n \n\n\nContents\n\n1 Name\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Application\n\n5 Definitions\n\n6 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates\n\n7 Basis for determining the factors\n\n8 Factors that must exist\n\n9 Relationship to service\n\n10 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 trigger finger (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 39 of 2019).\n\n2 Commencement\n\n This instrument commences on 25 March 2019.\n\n3 Authority\n\nThis instrument is made under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.\n\n4 Application\n\nThis instrument applies to a claim to which section 120A of the VEA or section 338 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 applies.\n\n5 Definitions\n\nThe terms defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument.\n\n6 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates\n\n(1) This Statement of Principles is about trigger finger and death from trigger finger.\n\nMeaning of trigger finger\n\n(2) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, trigger finger, also known as stenosing flexor tenosynovitis, means a tendon entrapment of one or more digits, where enlargement of the tendon or narrowing of its flexor pulley sheath leads to the tendon being unable to slide smoothly within the sheath.\n\nNote: Trigger finger typically presents with catching and locking during flexion or extension of the affected digit.\n\n(3) While trigger finger attracts ICD‑10‑AM code M65.3, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of trigger finger is that given in subsection (2).\n\n(4) For subsection (3), a reference to an ICD-10-AM code is a reference to the code assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), Tenth Edition, effective date of 1 July 2017, copyrighted by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, ISBN 978-1-76007-296-4.\n\nDeath from trigger finger\n\n(5) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, trigger finger, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's trigger finger.\n\nNote: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\n7 Basis for determining the factors\n\nThe Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that there is sound medical‑scientific evidence that indicates that trigger finger and death from trigger finger 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.\n\nNote: MRCA, relevant service and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.\n\n8 Factors that must exist\n\nAt least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting trigger finger or death from trigger finger with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:\n\n(1) performing repetitive activities or forceful activities using the affected hand, for a cumulative period of at least 500 hours within the six months before the clinical onset of trigger finger;\n\nNote: forceful activities and repetitive activities are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. \n\n(2) having acute trauma involving the affected tendon or tendon sheath, within the one year before the clinical onset of trigger finger;\n\nNote: Examples of acute trauma include, but are not limited to, a laceration, puncture, heavy blow, fracture and crush injury.\n\n(3) having carpal tunnel release involving the wrist on the affected side, within the one year before the clinical onset of trigger finger;\n\n(4) having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of trigger finger;\n\n(5) having a space occupying lesion involving the affected tendon or tendon sheath at the time of the clinical onset of trigger finger;\n\nNote: Examples of a space occupying lesion include, but are not limited to, amyloid deposit, gouty tophus, granuloma and post-surgery adhesion.\n\n(6) being treated with an aromatase inhibitor within the one year before the clinical onset of trigger finger;\n\nNote: Examples of aromatase inhibitors include, but are not limited to, anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole.\n\n(7) performing repetitive activities or forceful activities using the affected hand, for a cumulative period of at least 500 hours within the six months before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;\n\nNote: forceful activities and repetitive activities are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. \n\n(8) having acute trauma involving the affected tendon or tendon sheath, within the one year before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;\n\nNote: Examples of acute trauma include, but are not limited to, a laceration, puncture, heavy blow, fracture and crush injury.\n\n(9) having carpal tunnel release involving the wrist on the affected side, within the one year before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;\n\n(10) having diabetes mellitus before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;\n\n(11) having a space occupying lesion involving the affected tendon or tendon sheath at the time of the clinical worsening of trigger finger;\n\nNote: Examples of a space occupying lesion include, but are not limited to, amyloid deposit, gouty tophus, granuloma and post-surgery adhesion.\n\n(12) being treated with an aromatase inhibitor within the one year before the clinical worsening of trigger finger;\n\nNote: Examples of aromatase inhibitors include, but are not limited to, anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole.\n\n(13) inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for trigger finger.\n\n9 Relationship to service\n\n(1) The existence in a person of any factor referred to in section 8, must be related to the relevant service rendered by the person.\n\n(2) The factors set out in subsections 8(7) to 8(13) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, trigger finger where the person's trigger finger was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service.\n\n10 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 8 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(2) 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 5\n\n1 Definitions\n\nIn this instrument:\n\n forceful activities means tasks requiring the generation of force by the hand which:\n\n(a) are equivalent to lifting or carrying loads of more than three kilograms; or\n\n(b) involve lifting or carrying an object in the hand greater than one kilogram in excess of ten times per hour.\n\n MRCA means the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.\n\n relevant service means:\n\n(a) operational service under the VEA;\n\n(b) peacekeeping service under the VEA;\n\n(c) hazardous service under the VEA;\n\n(d) British nuclear test defence service under the VEA;\n\n(e) warlike service under the MRCA; or\n\n(f) non-warlike service under the MRCA.\n\nNote: MRCA and VEA are also defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.\n\n repetitive activities means:\n\n(a) bending or twisting of the hand at least 50 times an hour; or\n\n(b) carrying out the same or similar movements in the hand at least 50 times an hour.\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 trigger finger—see subsection 6(2).\n\n VEA means the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.\n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard Statement of Principles instrument that operates within its intended scope — establishing medical criteria for a specific condition under the veterans' compensation framework. It follows the established template for RMA determinations without expansion beyond the original legislative purpose of subsection 196B(2) of the VEA."},"complexity_factors":["13 distinct factors with specific temporal requirements (6-month or 1-year lookback periods)","Dual application structure — factors 1-6 for initial onset, factors 7-12 for worsening, plus factor 13 for treatment failure","Cross-referencing to other Statements of Principles (section 10) for related conditions","Defined terms in Schedule 1 including quantitative thresholds (500 hours, 50 times per hour, 3kg/1kg weight limits)","Nested definitions requiring lookup (e.g., 'relevant service' has 6 sub-categories across two Acts)","Medical-legal hybrid language requiring interpretation of clinical concepts (clinical onset, clinical worsening, terminal event)"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets medical rules for when trigger finger (stenosing flexor tenosynovitis) can be accepted as service-related for compensation. It applies to veterans, current and former defence members, and peacekeepers, using a \"reasonable hypothesis\" test: if at least one listed risk factor plausibly links the condition to service, the threshold for a claim is met.\n\nKey factors include repetitive/forceful hand use, recent hand injury or carpal tunnel surgery, pre‑existing diabetes, space‑occupying lesions, recent aromatase inhibitor therapy, or inadequate treatment."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument sets the scope for assessing trigger finger claims by defining the condition and listing factors that raise a reasonable hypothesis for connection to service (s6, s8). It applies to claims under the VEA and MRCA (s4). The text contains no statement that it replaces or narrows any earlier instrument; it also allows factors tied to other Statements of Principles to operate in accordance with those instruments (s10)."},"complexity_factors":["Medical definition and coding: a clinical definition of trigger finger plus reference to ICD‑10‑AM (s6(2)–(4)).","Multiple, specific causal factors: 13 alternative factors that may establish a reasonable hypothesis (s8).","Quantitative thresholds and time windows: 500 cumulative hours in six months; 50 repetitions per hour; one‑year windows for trauma, surgery and drug exposure (s8; Schedule 1).","Technical exposure definitions: statutory definitions of ‘forceful activities’ and ‘repetitive activities’ use weight and repetition metrics that require factual measurement (Schedule 1).","Causation and temporal rules: requirement that each factor be related to the person’s relevant service and different rules for material contribution/aggravation when condition pre‑existed service (s9).","Cross‑references to other Statements of Principles: factors that refer to other injuries/diseases defer to those Statements (s10), adding interpretive layering.","Open‑ended or clinical determinations: terms like ‘clinical onset’, ‘clinical worsening’, and ‘inability to obtain appropriate clinical management’ require medical judgment and may create evidentiary variability (s8, s6(5)).","Application scope: instrument applies only to claims under specified Acts and service categories, so administrative application depends on statutory context (s4; Schedule 1 definitions of relevant service)."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument defines “trigger finger” and sets the medical and factual criteria that, if met, raise a “reasonable hypothesis” that a veteran’s trigger finger (or death from it) is connected to their service. It applies to claims under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 and lists specific risk factors, time windows and quantitative thresholds claimants must show."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-trigger-finger-reasonable-hypothesis-no-39-of-2019","history":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-trigger-finger-reasonable-hypothesis-no-39-of-2019/history","analysis":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-trigger-finger-reasonable-hypothesis-no-39-of-2019/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-trigger-finger-reasonable-hypothesis-no-39-of-2019/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-trigger-finger-reasonable-hypothesis-no-39-of-2019/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/statement-of-principles-concerning-trigger-finger-reasonable-hypothesis-no-39-of-2019/documents"}}