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The functions of the RMA are specified in section 196B of the VEA. The major function of the RMA is to determine
Statements of Principles in respect of particular kinds of injury, disease or death, based on sound medical-scientific
evidence for the purpose of applying the applicable standards of proof relating to veterans' matters; the reasonable
hypothesis standard and the reasonable satisfaction (or balance of probabilities) standard.
A Statement of Principles in respect of a particular kind of injury, disease or death which applies for the
purposes of the reasonable hypothesis standard details the factors that must as a minimum exist and which of those
factors must be related to service rendered by a person, before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has
been raised connecting an injury, disease or death of that kind with the circumstances of that service.
A Statement of Principles which applies for the purposes of the reasonable satisfaction standard sets out the
factors that must exist, and which of those factors must be related to service rendered by a person before it can
be said that, on the balance of probabilities, an injury, disease or death of that kind is connected with the circumstances
of that service.
Given the nature of the above, it can be seen that the RMA is not concerned with individual claims or cases
but with the task of developing Statements of Principles in order for the Repatriation Commission to assess claims
for disability pension.
Another function of the RMA is to conduct investigations either on its own initiative or when it receives a
request under section 196E of the VEA in respect of a particular kind of injury, disease or death. Investigations
may lead to the determination of a new Statement of Principles, or an amendment of an existing Statement of Principles
depending upon whether the RMA is of the view that there is sufficient sound medical-scientific evidence on which
it can rely to make a new, or amend an existing, Statement of Principles.
A Statement of Principles is a disallowable instrument for the purposes of section 46A of the Acts Interpretation
Act 1901.
Sound medical-scientific evidence is defined in section 5AB(2) of the VEA as follows: Information about
a particular kind of injury, disease or death is taken to be sound medical-scientific evidence if:
(a) the information:
(i) is consistent with material relating to medical science that has been published in a medical or scientific
publication and has been, in the opinion of the Repatriation Medical Authority, subjected to a peer review process;
or
(ii) in accordance with generally accepted medical practice, would serve as the basis for the diagnosis and
management of a medical condition; and
(b) in the case of information about how that kind of injury, disease or death may be caused - meets the applicable
criteria for assessing causation currently applied in the field of epidemiology.
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This page last updated 31 October 2003.
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