Statement of PrinciplesconcerningCHILBLAINS (Balance of Probabilities)(No. 67 of 2026)The Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Statement of Principles under section 370CC of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.Dated 4 September 2026Dr Anthony Lynham AOChairpersonby and on behalf ofThe Repatriation Medical AuthorityContents1 Name2 Commencement3 Authority4 Repeal5 Application6 Definitions7 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates8 Basis for determining the factors9 Factors that must exist10 Relationship to service11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of PrinciplesSchedule 1 - Dictionary1 DefinitionsNameThis is the Statement of Principles concerning chilblains (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 67 of 2026).CommencementThis instrument commences on 5 October 2026.AuthorityThis instrument is made under section 370CC of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.RepealThe Statement of Principles concerning chilblains (Balance of Probabilities) (No. 30 of 2018) (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2018L00199) made under section 370CC of the MRCA is repealed.ApplicationThis instrument applies to a claim to which section 339 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 applies.DefinitionsThe terms defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument.This Statement of Principles is about chilblains and death from chilblains.Meaning of chilblainsmeans painful, localised erythema and inflammatory swelling from the reaction of the small blood vessels in the skin to exposure to cold; andexcludes frostnip and frostbite.Note 1: Chilblains are also known as pernios or perniosis.Note 2: Chilblains manifest as erythematous to violaceous macules, papules, plaques or nodules in sites of cold exposure. Symptoms of pruritus, pain or burning often accompany the skin lesions, and complications of blistering, ulceration or secondary infection may occur. The most common sites for involvement are the fingers and toes, but other sites such as the legs, hands, nose, face and ears may also be affected.While chilblains attracts ICD-10-AM code T69.1, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of chilblains is that given in subsection (2).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.Death from chilblainsFor the purposes of this Statement of Principles, chilblains, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's chilblains.Note: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.Basis for determining the factorsOn the sound medical-scientific evidence available, the Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that it is more probable than not that chilblains and death from chilblains can be related to relevant service under the MRCA or VEA.Note: MRCA, relevant service and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.Factors that must existAt least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, chilblains or death from chilblains is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:exposing the affected part of the body to temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, for more than 8 hours, within the 24 hours before the clinical onset;inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for chilblains before clinical worsening.The existence in a person of any factor referred to in section 9, must be related to the relevant service rendered by the person.The factors set out in subsection 9 apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, chilblains where the person's chilblains 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 PrinciplesIn this Statement of Principles:if a factor referred to in section 9 applies in relation to a person; andthat factor refers to an injury or disease in respect of which a Statement of Principles has been determined under subsection 370CC of the MRCA;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.Schedule 1 - DictionaryNote: See Section 61 DefinitionsIn this instrument:chilblains—see subsection 7(2).MRCA means the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.relevant service means:(a) peacetime service;(b) service to which a claim mentioned in subsection 120B(1) of the VEA relates.terminal event means the proximate or ultimate cause of death and includes the following:(a) pneumonia;(b) respiratory failure;(c) cardiac arrest;(d) circulatory failure; or(e) cessation of brain function.VEA means the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.