How do DVA claims work? A plain-English guide to your first claim

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026 by TAG Legal Team

Quick answer: Here's how DVA claims work. You ask the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) to accept that a diagnosed condition is linked to your Australian Defence Force (ADF) service. You lodge the claim, usually online through MyService. DVA assesses the evidence and decides. If it accepts the condition, you may be eligible for treatment and compensation.

Key facts

• The first step for any condition is an initial liability claim: DVA decides whether the condition is related to your service. (DVA: How to apply for Initial Liability in MyService)
• You need a diagnosis from a qualified health professional for each condition you claim. (DVA: How to apply for Initial Liability in MyService)
• Since 1 July 2026, all new compensation claims are decided under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), no matter when you served. (DVA: Making a claim)
• Peacetime service counts. You don't need to have deployed. (DVA: How we will assess your claim)
• If you disagree with a decision, the first review step for most decisions is the Veterans' Review Board (VRB), which has no power to extend its time limits. (VRB: When to apply)

How do DVA claims work, step by step?

A DVA claim moves through a set of stages, from diagnosis to decision. Here's the path for a first claim, based on what DVA says happens:

1. Get a diagnosis for each condition you want to claim.
2. Gather your evidence: proof of the diagnosis, your service details and anything that shows the condition came from your service.
3. Lodge the claim, usually online through MyService.
4. DVA acknowledges it. For an initial liability claim, DVA says it will send a letter within 5 days.
5. Your claim is allocated. Once it's allocated for processing, DVA says you can expect a phone call within 14 days, then regular updates. (DVA: Our commitment to you)
6. DVA assesses it, looking at your medical evidence and service records to decide whether the condition is service related.
7. You get the outcome. DVA calls you before the decision to explain the likely outcome and the reasons, then you're notified of the result. (DVA: Our commitment to you)
8. If the condition is accepted, DVA does a needs assessment before any compensation is paid. This is a discussion about the benefits, services and support you may need.
9. If you disagree, you can ask for a review. Your decision letter explains how.

Which law applies to my claim after 1 July 2026?

For any claim lodged from 1 July 2026, it's the MRCA. DVA now decides all new compensation and rehabilitation claims under that one Act, regardless of when you served or when the injury happened.

Recent change (1 July 2026): The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) closed to new compensation claims on 30 June 2026. This came from the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 (the VETS Act).

This article is mainly about new claims lodged from 1 July 2026. If you're in a different group, here's where you stand:

• You lodged before 1 July 2026: DVA decides those claims under the old three-Act system (the VEA, the DRCA and the MRCA).
• You already get payments under the VEA or DRCA: they continue and are indexed as normal. The exception is DRCA incapacity payments, which moved to MRCA incapacity payments from 1 July 2026.
• You already have conditions accepted under the VEA or DRCA: DVA recognises them under the MRCA automatically. You don't need to reapply. Compensation for a new condition, or for a worsening of an accepted one, is now paid under the MRCA.
• You had a claim rejected under the old Acts: DVA says it can be made again under the MRCA from 1 July 2026, once the appeal timeframes have expired, with new or additional evidence.

What can I claim from DVA?

You can claim for an injury or disease, physical or mental, that is linked to your service. DVA can't accept conditions that aren't related to service. Its own example is a private motor vehicle accident. Since 1 July 2026, an injury that happened while you were on duty can sometimes be accepted even if service didn't cause it. (DVA: How to apply for Initial Liability in MyService)

A few things decide whether a condition can go in:

• It needs a diagnosis. DVA asks for a qualified health professional to confirm each condition. For PTSD and most other mental health conditions, that means a psychiatrist. A treating GP or clinical psychologist can diagnose anxiety and depressive disorders. (CLIK: Part 1A) Our guide to a PTSD DVA claim covers the mental health side in detail.
• Peacetime service counts. Under the MRCA, service is warlike, non-warlike or peacetime. Peacetime is any Defence service that isn't warlike or non-warlike, so you don't need to have deployed. Peacetime claims are generally assessed under a different standard of proof (see below).
• Reservists and cadets can claim. DVA lists permanent ADF members, Reserve Forces members, and cadets and their officers and instructors as people who can claim under the MRCA. Cadets are covered for cadet activities.
• Service can make an existing condition worse. If service aggravated a condition you already had, it can be compensated to the extent of the aggravation.

What's the difference between a liability claim and a compensation claim?

A liability claim asks DVA to accept that a condition is service related. Compensation comes after that, once DVA knows what you need. Accepted liability is the gateway to everything else.

• Initial liability: DVA decides whether a condition is related to your service. When it happens: The first step for every condition.
• Needs assessment: A discussion with DVA about the benefits, services and support you may need. When it happens: After liability is accepted, before any compensation is paid.
• Permanent impairment: Compensation for the long-term impact of accepted conditions. When it happens: Considered at the needs assessment, or you can ask in writing at any time.
• Incapacity payments: Replace lost income when an accepted condition stops or limits your work. When it happens: When a doctor certifies you can't work, or can only work less.
• Treatment: DVA pays for treatment of accepted conditions. When it happens: Once a condition is accepted.

Some basics on the two main payments:

• Permanent impairment: you generally need at least 10 impairment points from your accepted conditions. Only 5 points are needed for hearing loss, loss of fingers or toes, or loss of taste or smell. DVA combines all your accepted conditions into one rating, then adds a lifestyle rating, using its guide known as GARP M. If a condition hasn't settled yet, an interim payment may be possible. Permanent impairment payments are tax free.
• Incapacity payments: these are based on the gap between what you earned before and what you can earn now. You need medical certification that you're totally or partially unable to work because of an accepted condition.

Treatment for accepted conditions usually comes through a Veteran White Card. Our guide to the DVA Gold Card vs White Card explains what each card covers and when accepted conditions can lead to a Gold Card. Mental health treatment is different: if you have at least one day of continuous full-time service, DVA can fund it without you needing to prove it's linked to service (non-liability health care). You still need to apply. (DVA: Veteran Card for specific conditions)

How does DVA decide if my condition is linked to service?

DVA applies set tests. For claims lodged from 1 July 2026, presumptive liability is considered first. The other main tool is the Statements of Principles.

• Presumptive liability: for listed conditions, if you have a confirmed diagnosis and your service meets the criteria, DVA accepts liability without further investigation. DVA says this covers more than 150 conditions. It applies only to claims lodged from 1 July 2026.
• Statements of Principles (SoPs): these are legal instruments made by the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA), an independent body. Each SoP lists the factors that must exist before a particular injury or disease can be connected to service. They apply under the MRCA and the VEA, and decision-makers are bound by them. You can read every SoP on the RMA website.
• No SoP for your condition? If there's no SoP and the RMA hasn't declared it won't make one, the decision is made on the medical opinions and other evidence. (DVA: Statements of Principles)

The standard of proof depends on the type of service:

• Peacetime: Balance of probabilities. What it means: The condition must be more likely than not linked to your service.
• Warlike and non-warlike (and some other service, such as hazardous, peacekeeping or British nuclear test service): Reasonable hypothesis. What it means: A more generous test: the evidence needs to point to a reasonable link between the condition and your service that fits the relevant Statement of Principles.

Each condition with a SoP has two versions, one for each standard. That's why the same condition can be assessed differently depending on where and how you served.

How do I lodge my first DVA claim?

Most people lodge online through MyService. You'll need a myGov account linked to DVA. In MyService you select Apply now, choose the Initial Liability tile and follow the prompts. DVA says most people lodge online and find it quicker and easier.

Before you lodge, have these ready:

• proof of your diagnosis for each condition, such as a GP or specialist report (Defence documents can count);
• your service details, unless you have a PMKeyS number, in which case DVA already has your service history;
• any documents that show your condition resulted from your service;
• your medical provider's details.

DVA says giving it a confirmed diagnosis up front will help it decide your claim more quickly. You can also nominate someone to act on your behalf with DVA, and they can lodge an online claim through their own MyService account.

If you'd like a second pair of eyes before you lodge, a free claims assessment looks at your service and your conditions and tells you plainly what may be worth claiming and what evidence you'll need.

How long does a DVA claim take?

It depends on the claim. DVA says it aims to allocate new claims within two weeks of receiving them. For an eligible presumptive liability condition, if you give a confirmed diagnosis and all the required information when you lodge, DVA says the claim may be decided in under two weeks.

DVA publishes its own claims processing data. The latest set at the time of review is DVA's claims processing data as at 30 September 2026, and the current figures are on DVA's claim processing times page. In some cases, DVA also covers the cost of treatment before your claim is finalised.

What if DVA says no?

You can ask for a review. Your decision letter sets out your review options and the time limit, so check the dates in your own letter first.

For most decisions made from 21 April 2025, the steps are:

1. The Veterans' Review Board (VRB). You usually need to apply within 12 months of the decision. The VRB says its time limits are strict and it has no power to extend them.
2. The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). If you disagree with the VRB's decision, you usually have 3 months after you receive it to apply to the ART. You can ask the ART in writing for more time, with your reasons.

One thing worth knowing: the law prevents lawyers from representing veterans at VRB hearings. Lawyers can still help prepare your application, take part in the VRB's dispute resolution process and help with written submissions for a hearing.

Our guide on what to do when DVA rejects your claim covers the next steps, and our article on the DVA appeal time limit explains how to work out your deadline.

Do I need help with my DVA claim, or can I do it alone?

You can lodge a claim yourself through MyService. Free help is also available from ex-service organisation (ESO) advocates, which DVA lists on its Advocacy Register. DVA says these services are free, though some may charge a small administration fee.

If you'd rather have a law firm run the whole claim, that's what TAG Legal does. We work out what to claim, gather the evidence, deal with DVA for you and handle reviews if a decision goes the wrong way, Australia-wide. TAG Legal is a fee-charging firm, and you can read about our fees.

Frequently asked questions

What is a DVA claim?

A DVA claim asks the Department of Veterans' Affairs to accept that an injury or disease is linked to your ADF service. This first step is called initial liability. If DVA accepts it, you may be eligible for treatment and compensation for that condition.

Can I claim DVA compensation if I never deployed?

Yes. Peacetime service is covered under the MRCA. Peacetime claims are assessed on the balance of probabilities, meaning the condition must be more likely than not linked to your service.

How do I lodge a DVA claim?

Most people lodge online through MyService, using a myGov account linked to DVA. You need a diagnosis for each condition, plus your service details and any documents linking the condition to your service.

Which Act will my DVA claim be decided under?

If you lodged on or after 1 July 2026, the MRCA. Claims lodged before then are decided under the old three-Act system. Payments you already receive under the VEA or DRCA continue and are indexed as normal.

Do I need a diagnosis before I claim?

Yes. DVA needs a qualified health professional to diagnose each condition you claim. For PTSD and most other mental health conditions, that means a psychiatrist. A treating GP or clinical psychologist can diagnose anxiety and depressive disorders.

What happens if DVA rejects my claim?

You can usually apply to the Veterans' Review Board within 12 months of the decision. The VRB cannot extend that time limit, so check the dates in your decision letter straight away.

Can TAG Legal manage my DVA claim for me?

Yes. TAG Legal manages DVA claims end to end, Australia-wide: working out what to claim, gathering the evidence, dealing with DVA for you and handling reviews.

Get a free claims assessment.

If this brings things up for you

• Open Arms: Veterans & Families Counselling, free and confidential, 24/7: 1800 011 046
• Lifeline, 24/7 crisis support: 13 11 14
• In an emergency, call 000.

General information only. This article is general information about Australian veterans' entitlements as at the "last reviewed" date above. It is not legal advice and does not take your circumstances into account. The law and DVA policy change. Before acting, get advice about your own situation. TAG Legal Pty Ltd is an incorporated legal practice regulated by the Law Society of New South Wales.