Amendment Statement of PrinciplesconcerningTHORACOLUMBAR SPONDYLOSIS(Reasonable Hypothesis)(No. 76 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 Thoracolumbar spondylosis (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 76 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 Thoracolumbar spondylosis (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 13 of 2023) (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2023L00164) is amended in the following manner:Section | Amendment9(38)Insert the following factor concerning “awkward posture of the trunk”:having awkward posture of the trunk 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 trunk is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.9(39)Insert the following factor concerning “lower limb amputation”:having a transfemoral or transtibial amputation of the lower limb for at least 3 years before clinical onset or clinical worsening;Schedule 1 – DictionaryInsert the following definition of "awkward posture of the trunk" in alphabetical order:awkward posture of the trunk means persistent or repetitive forward flexion greater than 20 degrees, lateral flexion, extension, rotation or twisting of the thoracolumbar spine. Some activities that involve awkward posture of the trunk include, but are not limited to, periscope watch on submarines, bending or twisting of the trunk 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, construction tasks such as brick laying, plumbing, roofing work.