PTSD DVA claim: what you need and how to start

Written by TAG Legal

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026 by TAG Legal Team

Quick answer: A PTSD DVA claim needs a current diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder from a psychiatrist, and a link between the condition and your service. DVA usually tests that link against the PTSD Statement of Principles. Some claims made since 1 July 2026 can be accepted on a presumptive basis instead. Mental health treatment doesn't have to wait for a claim.

If this brings things up for you: Open Arms: Veterans & Families Counselling is free, confidential and available 24/7 on 1800 011 046. (Open Arms)

Key facts

Who this covers: claims lodged from 1 July 2026, which the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) decides under the MRCA. If you lodged before 1 July 2026, your claim is decided under the Act that applied when you lodged it (the VEA, DRCA or MRCA), so some of the detail below may not apply to you.

What does a PTSD DVA claim need?

In plain terms, a PTSD DVA claim needs two things: a diagnosis, and a link to your service. Here's what each part means.

  • A diagnosis. A current diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from a psychiatrist, using the DSM-5 criteria. (CLIK: Part 1A)
  • A link to service. Something in your service that meets a factor in the PTSD Statement of Principles (SoP), or a claim that fits the presumptive liability rules (see below).
  • The information to back it up. Your service details, proof of the diagnosis, and anything showing how the condition relates to your service. (DVA: how to apply for Initial Liability in MyService)

If you're new to the system, our plain-English guide to how DVA claims work covers the basics.

Who can diagnose PTSD for a DVA claim?

For PTSD, it has to be a psychiatrist. DVA's guidelines say diagnoses from clinical psychologists and GPs can be accepted only for depressive and anxiety disorders, and diagnosis of other mental health conditions requires a psychiatrist. (CLIK: Part 1A)

Recent change (19 September 2025). DVA widened who can diagnose anxiety and depressive disorders for a claim. As well as psychiatrists, it now accepts diagnoses from: (DVA provider news)

  • a treating GP (one with an ongoing treating relationship with you);
  • a treating clinical psychologist (same);
  • a clinical psychologist's report from Defence's Medical Employment Classification Review process;
  • a clinical psychologist's report from during your service, or within 1 year after you left the ADF.

That change doesn't cover PTSD. If you're also claiming depression or anxiety, those conditions can use the wider list, but the PTSD part of the claim still needs a psychiatrist.

If you don't have a psychiatrist yet, your GP can talk to you about a referral. Your psychologist's and GP's treatment notes are still useful, but they don't replace the psychiatrist's diagnosis for PTSD.

What does the PTSD Statement of Principles look for?

The SoP lists the kinds of events that can link PTSD to service. At least one factor has to be met, and it has to be related to your service. (SoP No. 98 of 2022, sections 9 and 10)

The two main factors are experiencing a category 1A stressor or a category 1B stressor before PTSD began. The SoP defines them like this: (SoP No. 98 of 2022, Schedule 1)

Category 1A stressor (something that happened to you)

  • Experiencing a life-threatening event
  • Being subject to a serious physical attack or assault, including rape and sexual molestation
  • Being threatened with a weapon, held captive, kidnapped or tortured

Category 1B stressor (something you did or saw)

  • Killing or maiming a person
  • Being an eyewitness to a person being killed or critically injured
  • Being an eyewitness to atrocities inflicted on another person
  • Taking part in clearing a corpse or a critically injured casualty
  • Viewing a corpse or a critically injured casualty as an eyewitness

"Eyewitness" means you experienced it first hand. Seeing it only on the news or social media doesn't count. (SoP No. 98 of 2022, Schedule 1)

The SoP has other factors too, including: (SoP No. 98 of 2022, section 9)

  • someone close to you experiencing a category 1A stressor within the year before PTSD began;
  • the traumatic death of someone close to you within the 2 years before PTSD began;
  • repeated or extreme exposure to the details of severe traumatic events, such as collecting human remains;
  • factors for when PTSD you already had got worse.

Whether a particular event fits a factor depends on the facts. You can read the full SoP on the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) website.

Does it matter whether I deployed?

It changes which version of the SoP applies, not whether you can claim. There are two versions, and the one used depends on your type of service:

  • Warlike or non-warlike service under the MRCA, or operational, peacekeeping, hazardous or British nuclear test defence service under the VEA: No. 97 of 2022. Test: Reasonable hypothesis.
  • Other service, including peacetime service: No. 98 of 2022. Test: Balance of probabilities.

(SoP No. 97 of 2022, Schedule 1 "relevant service", SoP No. 98 of 2022, Schedule 1, DVA: Statements of Principles)

The reasonable hypothesis version also has a factor for living or working in a hostile or life-threatening environment for at least 4 weeks before PTSD began, such as being under threat of artillery, rocket or mine attack, or going on combat patrols. (SoP No. 97 of 2022, section 9 and Schedule 1)

So a serious training accident, an assault on base, or recovering bodies after a disaster can all be looked at under the peacetime version. You don't need a combat tour.

What is presumptive liability, and does it cover PTSD?

Presumptive liability is a newer route. For claims made on or after 1 July 2026, DVA can accept certain listed conditions without the usual SoP test, once the diagnosis is confirmed and the service conditions are met. (CLIK: 3.4.14 Presumptive Liability, Presumptive Liability Determination 2026, section 5)

PTSD is on the list in two places: (Presumptive Liability Determination 2026, Part 2 item 28 and Part 4 item 10)

  • Warlike service. PTSD is listed for people with more than 28 days of warlike service, where the determination's other conditions are met. Warlike service here includes qualifying service under the VEA.
  • Defence abuse. PTSD is listed for people who received the maximum payment under a Defence abuse redress or reparation scheme (a category 4 Defence Abuse Response Taskforce payment, a tier 1 Defence Force Ombudsman Reparation Scheme payment, or a maximum National Redress Scheme payment), where PTSD began during or after the service involving abuse.

If your claim doesn't meet the presumptive rules, it is assessed the usual way, against the SoP. (CLIK: 3.4.14 Presumptive Liability)

Can I get PTSD treatment before my claim is decided?

Yes. If you have at least one day of continuous full-time service, DVA funds treatment for any mental health condition through non-liability health care. You don't have to prove service caused it, and you don't need an accepted claim, though you do need to apply. Some other service also qualifies, such as disaster relief or border protection service. (DVA: non-liability mental health care, DVA: Veteran Card for specific conditions)

You need a Veteran White Card that covers mental health. DVA usually sends one when you discharge with at least one day of continuous full-time service. If you don't have one, you can apply through MyService. (DVA: non-liability mental health care)

  • Open Arms also offers free, confidential counselling to veterans and families, and you don't need a diagnosis, referral or DVA claim to use it. (Open Arms)

How do I start a PTSD DVA claim?

You lodge an Initial Liability claim, usually online through MyService. Here's how it runs. (DVA: how to apply for Initial Liability in MyService, DVA: making a claim)

  1. Get the diagnosis. A psychiatrist's diagnosis of PTSD.
  2. Gather what DVA asks for. Your service details (if you have a PMKeyS number, DVA already holds your service history), proof of the diagnosis, documents showing how the condition relates to your service, and your doctor's details.
  3. Lodge in MyService. Choose Apply now, then the Initial Liability tile.
  4. DVA checks and assesses it. It looks at the medical evidence and your service records.
  5. You get a decision. DVA tells you whether it has accepted liability for PTSD.

If your PTSD is accepted, DVA pays for treatment of it as an accepted condition on your White Card. (CLIK: White Card) Permanent impairment compensation is generally assessed once the condition is permanent and stable, meaning it is unlikely to improve to any major degree. (CLIK: 5.4 When is an impairment stable?) Our guide to the DVA Gold Card vs White Card explains what each card covers.

DVA publishes its current claim processing times on its conditions and claims processing times page.

Not sure where your claim fits? A free claims assessment looks at your service, your diagnosis and which route applies to you.

Do I have to run a PTSD claim on my own?

No. Ex-service organisation advocates help veterans with claims. (DVA: making a claim) If you'd rather have a law firm run the whole thing, that's what TAG Legal does.

We manage the claim end to end, Australia-wide. That means matching what happened to you against the right SoP factor or presumptive rule, getting the diagnosis and service evidence together, helping you write your statement in your own words, lodging the claim and dealing with DVA for you. If a decision needs reviewing, we handle that too. We're a fee-charging firm, and fees are discussed one to one; see our fees.

What if DVA says no to my PTSD claim?

You can ask for the decision to be reviewed. Check your decision letter for the deadline that applies to you. Our guides explain what to do if DVA rejected your claim and the DVA appeal time limits.

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim PTSD with DVA if I never deployed?

Yes, you may be eligible. The balance of probabilities version of the PTSD Statement of Principles covers peacetime service under the MRCA, so events like a serious accident, an assault or witnessing a death during training can be considered.

Can a psychologist diagnose PTSD for a DVA claim?

No. For PTSD, DVA needs a psychiatrist's diagnosis. Since September 2025, treating clinical psychologists and treating GPs can diagnose anxiety and depressive disorders for a claim, but that change doesn't extend to PTSD.

What is a category 1A stressor?

It's one of the events in the PTSD Statement of Principles: a life-threatening event, a serious physical attack or assault (including rape and sexual molestation), or being threatened with a weapon, held captive, kidnapped or tortured.

Is PTSD a presumptive condition with DVA?

In some cases. For claims made on or after 1 July 2026, PTSD is listed for people with more than 28 days of warlike service, and for people who received the maximum payment under a Defence abuse redress or reparation scheme. Other PTSD claims are tested against the Statement of Principles.

Can I get PTSD treatment while my claim is being decided?

Yes. With at least one day of continuous full-time service, DVA funds treatment for any mental health condition through non-liability health care, without a compensation claim. You apply for it, for example in MyService. Open Arms also offers free counselling.

Which Act covers a PTSD claim lodged now?

The MRCA. Since 1 July 2026, new claims are decided under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004. Claims lodged before then are decided under the Act that applied at the time.

Can TAG Legal help with a PTSD claim?

Yes. TAG Legal helps veterans with DVA claims Australia-wide, including PTSD. We manage the claim end to end, from the evidence and your statement through to lodging and dealing with DVA, and any review.

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.

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