Statement of Principles concerning distal biceps brachii tendinopathy (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 3 of 2025)
1Statement of Principles concerning distal biceps brachii tendinopathy (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 3 of 2025)
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The Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Statement of Principles under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.
Dated 17 December 2024.
Professor Terence Campbell AM
Chairperson
by and on behalf of
The Repatriation Medical Authority
Contents
1 Name
2 Commencement
3 Authority
4 Application
5 Definitions
6 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates
7 Basis for determining the factors
8 Factors that must exist
9 Relationship to service
10 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles
Schedule 1 - Dictionary
1 Definitions
Name
This is the Statement of Principles concerning distal biceps brachii tendinopathy (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 3 of 2025).
Commencement
This instrument commences on 28 January 2025.
Authority
This instrument is made under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.
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.
Definitions
The terms defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument.
Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates
This Statement of Principles is about distal biceps brachii tendinopathy and death from distal biceps brachii tendinopathy.
Meaning of distal biceps brachii tendinopathy
For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, distal biceps brachii tendinopathy:
means a clinically symptomatic inflammation or degeneration of the distal biceps brachii tendon; and
includes partial or complete tears of the distal biceps brachii tendon; and
excludes biciptitoradial bursitis not accompanied by distal biceps brachii tendinopathy.
Note: Distal biceps brachii tendinopathy is also known as distal biceps brachii tendonitis/tendinitis or distal biceps brachii tendonosis/tendinosis.
Death from distal biceps brachii tendinopathy
For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, distal biceps brachii tendinopathy, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's distal biceps brachii tendinopathy.
Note: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.
Basis for determining the factors
The Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that there is sound medical‑scientific evidence that indicates that distal biceps brachii tendinopathy and death from distal biceps brachii tendinopathy 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.
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 distal biceps brachii tendinopathy or death from distal biceps brachii tendinopathy with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
having sudden forceful extension of the elbow, during elbow flexion, on the affected side at the time of clinical onset;
Note: Examples of activities that can cause sudden forceful extension of the elbow, during elbow flexion, include catching a heavy load with a bent arm, a fall on an outstretched hand and contact sports.
performing forceful activities with the hand or forearm on the affected side, in combination with:
repetitive activities with the hand or forearm on the affected side; or
sustained activities with the hand or forearm on the affected side;
for at least 1 hour per day, on more days than not, over a period of at least the 4 weeks before clinical onset;
abusing anabolic steroids at the time of clinical onset;
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for distal biceps brachii tendinopathy before clinical worsening.
Relationship to service
The existence in a person of any factor referred to in section 8, must be related to the relevant service rendered by the person.
The factor set out in subsection 8(4) applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, distal biceps brachii tendinopathy where the person's distal biceps brachii tendinopathy was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service.
Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles
In this Statement of Principles:
if a factor referred to in section 8 applies in relation to a person; and
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.