Specialist Medical Review Council

Declarations

Section 196W
Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

Re: Specialist Medical Review Council’s review of the

decision of the Repatriation Medical Authority in respect to

Statements of Principles 50 and 51 of 2017 for rheumatoid arthritis.

Request for Review Declaration No. 35

1. In relation to the RMA Statements of Principles Nos. 50 and 51 of 2017 concerning rheumatoid arthritis made under subsection 196B of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (the VEA), the Council under subsection 196W(5) of the VEA:

DECLARES that there is insufficient sound medical-scientific evidence on which the RMA could have relied to amend the Statements of Principles to include factor(s) for:

• exposure to mineral oils containing PCBs or acute PCB exposure.