These regulations, which come into force on 10 April 2025, amend the Veterans’ Support Regulations 2014 (the principal regulations).

Regulation 4 and Schedule 1 amend Schedule 1 of the principal regulations, which lists the Australian statements of principles (the statements) that apply to specific medical conditions for the purposes of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014 (the Act). The amendments—

• revoke the name and references to statements of 3 conditions (antiphospholipid syndrome, trigeminal neuralgia, and trigeminal neuropathy):

• insert the names of 4 new conditions (Merkel cell carcinoma, pathological fracture, retrocalcaneal heel bursitis, and trigeminal neuralgia or trigeminal neuropathy) and references to statements related to those conditions:

• replace the names and references to statements of 7 conditions (Achilles tendinopathy and bursitis, ingrowing nail, Meniere’s disease, myelodysplastic syndrome, non-melanotic malignant neoplasm of the skin, lipoma, and dental caries) to reflect the updated statements:

• replace the references to statements of the following conditions with updated references:

  • fracture:

  • neoplasm of the pituitary gland:

  • osteoporosis:

  • pinguecula.

Regulation 5 and Schedule 2 amend Schedule 2A of the principal regulations, which lists accepted late-onset conditions for the purposes of the definition of accepted late-onset condition in section 7 of the Act. The amendments—

• update the names of 2 conditions (myelodysplastic syndrome and non-melanotic malignant neoplasm of the skin) to align with updated statements of those conditions:

• insert the names of 3 new conditions (Merkel cell carcinoma, myocarditis, and pericarditis):

• replace the name of 1 condition (gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer) with the names of 2 conditions that have replaced it (duodenal ulcer and duodenal erosion and gastric ulcer and gastric erosion).

The statements are legislative instruments determined by the Australian Repatriation Medical Authority under an Australian Act of Parliament, the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986. Further information about the statements, as well as a link to the statements, can be found at https://www.veteransaffairs.mil.nz/for-clients/how-we-make-decisions/conditions-we-cover/statements-of-principles/