Condition-specific claims guidance.
Every service-related condition has its own Statement of Principles. These guides translate the SoP thresholds into plain English, explain what evidence you need, and map the sequelae that can be claimed alongside.
Hearing
Hearing loss, tinnitus, and noise-induced conditions
Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss is one of the most common service-related conditions claimed through DVA, and one of the most underclaimed. If you spent years working around aircraft, artillery, armoured vehicles, or firearms, your hearing damage is almost certainly service-related.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus (the persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears) affects a significant proportion of veterans and is directly linked to noise exposure during service. If you have tinnitus, you have a claimable condition.
Mental Health
PTSD, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorders
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most significant service-related conditions affecting ADF veterans, and it is fully claimable through DVA. If you experienced a traumatic event or events during your service, including operational deployments, training accidents, military violence, or sustained occupational stress, you have grounds to claim.
Depression
Depressive disorders (including major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder) are claimable through DVA when they are caused or aggravated by ADF service. Depression is one of the most common sequelae of PTSD and chronic pain conditions, and can also be claimed in its own right.
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders (including generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder) are claimable through DVA when caused or aggravated by ADF service. Anxiety frequently co-occurs with PTSD and depression and can be claimed alongside both.
Adjustment Disorder
Adjustment disorder is a psychological response to a significant life stressor that impairs daily functioning. In veterans, it is commonly triggered by discharge from the ADF, operational events, postings decisions, or workplace trauma. It is claimable through DVA when the causative stressor is service-related.
Alcohol Dependence
Alcohol use disorder and alcohol dependence are claimable through DVA when caused or aggravated by service-related conditions or service stressors. Alcohol dependence is frequently claimed as a sequela of PTSD, depression, or chronic pain, and is often the condition veterans are most reluctant to raise.
Musculoskeletal
Spinal, joint, and soft tissue conditions
Lumbar Spondylosis
Lumbar spondylosis (degenerative disease of the lumbar spine) is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions claimed through DVA, and for good reason. Decades of load carriage, physical training, parachuting, and physically demanding operational service cause the kind of cumulative spinal wear and tear that meets DVA's SoP thresholds.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip, knee, shoulder, ankle, or other joints is directly caused by the kinds of cumulative physical demands that define ADF service. If you spent years loading your joints with heavy equipment, running on hard surfaces, jumping from vehicles or aircraft, and working in physically demanding roles, your joint degeneration has a strong service connection.
Thoracic Spondylosis
Thoracic spondylosis (degenerative disease of the mid-back vertebrae) is less common than lumbar spondylosis but shares the same service-related causes. Load carriage, physical training, and occupational demands on the thoracic spine create the cumulative damage that drives degeneration.
Cervical Spondylosis
Cervical spondylosis (degenerative disease of the cervical spine and neck) is claimable through DVA when caused by service-related physical demands. Load carriage that places weight through the neck and shoulders, trauma to the cervical spine, and physical work involving awkward neck postures are the primary pathways.
Disc Prolapse
Disc prolapse (herniated or prolapsed intervertebral disc) is claimable through DVA when caused by physical demands during service. The lumbar and cervical spine are the most commonly affected regions. Heavy lifting, load carriage, and acute physical exertion are the primary SoP pathways.
Knee Injuries
Knee injuries are among the most common musculoskeletal conditions in ADF veterans, caused by the demands of load carriage, running, parachuting, and physically demanding training. The DVA SoP covers a range of knee pathologies, from internal derangement of the knee (IDK) to meniscal tears, ligament injuries, and patellofemoral disorders.
Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries are common in veterans whose service involved heavy lifting, overhead work, weapons handling, climbing, and load carriage. Rotator cuff pathology, labral tears, AC joint degeneration, and shoulder instability are all claimable conditions.
Rotator Cuff Injury
Rotator cuff injuries, including partial and full thickness tears of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor tendons, are claimable through DVA when caused by service-related physical demands or trauma.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition of the heel and arch caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. In veterans, it is directly linked to the high-impact physical training and load carriage demands of military service.
Labral Tear
Labral tears of the hip (acetabular labrum) and shoulder (glenoid labrum) are claimable through DVA when caused by service-related trauma or physical demands. They are often associated with other joint pathology and can be claimed alongside the primary joint condition.
Chondromalacia Patella
Chondromalacia patella (softening and degeneration of the articular cartilage on the underside of the kneecap) is directly linked to the repetitive loading demands of military physical training. It causes anterior knee pain, particularly on stairs, squatting, and after prolonged sitting.
Joint Instability
Joint instability (the tendency for a joint to give way or feel unstable, particularly under load) is claimable through DVA when caused by service-related injury. Shoulder, knee, and ankle instability are the most common presentations in veterans.
Fracture
A fracture sustained during ADF service, or directly caused by your service activities, is a compensable condition under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). This includes stress fractures from repetitive load-bearing activity, which are common in infantry, combat engineers, and physical training instructors.
Cut, Stab, Abrasion and Laceration
Cuts, stab wounds, abrasions, and lacerations sustained during ADF service are compensable under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). The SoP covers any injury that interrupts the epidermis or exposes underlying tissue, including friction burns, needlestick injuries, and wounds sustained during operational or training activities.
Dislocation
Joint dislocation (the complete loss of contact between articulating surfaces) is a common ADF injury, particularly in the shoulder, knee, and finger joints. Subluxation (partial loss of contact) is covered by the same SoP and is equally claimable.
Skin
Dermatitis, solar damage, and sun-related conditions
Solar Keratosis
Solar keratosis (actinic keratosis) refers to pre-malignant lesions caused by cumulative UV exposure, and is directly linked to the outdoor nature of ADF service. Veterans who served in tropical regions, on extended field exercises, and in high-UV environments are at significantly elevated risk.
Skin Cancer (Non-Melanotic)
Non-melanotic skin cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), are claimable through DVA when caused by cumulative UV exposure during service. Veterans with accepted solar keratosis can often claim skin cancer as a sequela.
Digestive & Other
Gastrointestinal and other service-related conditions
Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is claimable through DVA when caused or contributed to by service-related conditions. It is most commonly claimed as a sequela of PTSD, obesity, or conditions causing chronic nasal obstruction, all of which may themselves have service connections.
GERD
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is claimable through DVA when caused or aggravated by service-related factors. Stress, irregular eating patterns, alcohol use, and certain medications used during service are recognised contributing factors.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is claimable through DVA when caused or aggravated by service-related factors. It is frequently associated with PTSD and other service-related mental health conditions, and can be claimed as a sequela of those conditions.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is claimable through DVA when caused by service-related physical or psychological conditions. It is commonly a sequela of PTSD, depression, diabetes, or vascular conditions, all of which may have service connections.
Bruxism
Bruxism (habitual grinding or clenching of the teeth, typically during sleep) is claimable through DVA when caused or aggravated by service-related psychological conditions. It is most commonly associated with PTSD, anxiety, and high occupational stress.
Deadline notice
Provisional Access to Medical Treatment closes 30 June 2026.
Provisional Access to Medical Treatment (PAMT) allows veterans to access funded medical treatment while their DVA claim is being assessed — without waiting for liability to be decided. It applies to around 20 specific conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spondylosis, osteoarthritis, and solar keratosis.
PAMT will close on 30 June 2026 when the new VETS Act takes effect. After that date, new PAMT applications will no longer be accepted. If you have a PAMT-eligible condition and have not yet lodged, time is running out.
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