Amendment Statement of PrinciplesconcerningCERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS(Reasonable Hypothesis)(No. 72 of 2026)The Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Amendment Statement of Principles under sections 370CB and 370CG of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.Dated 19 October 2026Dr Anthony Lynham AOChairpersonby and on behalf ofThe Repatriation Medical AuthorityContents1 Name2 Commencement3 Authority4 AmendmentNameThis is the Amendment Statement of Principles concerning cervical spondylosis (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 72 of 2026).CommencementThis instrument commences on 16 November 2026.AuthorityThis instrument is made under sections 370CB and 370CG of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.AmendmentThe Statement of Principles concerning cervical spondylosis (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 11 of 2023) (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2023L00158) is amended in the following manner:Section | Amendment9(14)Replace the existing factor in subsection 9(14) with the following:flying in a helicopter as operational aircrew, for a cumulative total of at least 500 hours within the 25 years before the clinical onset of cervical spondylosis;9(31)Replace the existing factor in subsection 9(31) with the following:flying in a helicopter as operational aircrew, for a cumulative total of at least 500 hours within the 25 years before the clinical worsening of cervical spondylosis;9(36)Insert the following factor concerning “awkward neck posture” below subsection 9(35):having awkward posture of the head or neck to a cumulative total of at least 2,500 hours within any 10-year period before clinical onset or clinical worsening;Note: awkward posture of the head or neck is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.Schedule 1 – DictionaryInsert the following definition of "awkward posture of the head or neck" in alphabetical order:awkward posture of the head or neck means persistent or repetitive forward flexion or rotation greater than 30 degrees, extension greater than 20 degrees or lateral flexion greater than 15 degrees of the cervical spine. Some activities that involve awkward posture of the head or neck include, but are not limited to, keeping watch on the bridge of submarines, periscope watch on submarines, bending or twisting of the neck when moving around a submarine, “casing crawls” on submarines, repair and servicing of machinery on Naval ships including submarines, postures adopted by crews of armoured vehicles, posture adopted while occupying an observation post in a prone position, professional playing of musical instruments that involve awkward neck posture such as playing the bagpipes, construction tasks such as painting, plumbing, metal work.