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.
Dislocation during service is almost always the result of physical trauma: a fall, collision, tackle, or forced limb movement during training or operational activities. The SoP also covers dislocation caused by damage to supporting soft tissue structures (ligaments, tendons, capsule), which is frequently the underlying mechanism in ADF-related joint injuries.
Dislocation is a PAMT-eligible condition. Treatment, including specialist review, physiotherapy, and imaging, can be funded through DVA while your claim is under assessment.
Why Dislocation is common in the ADF
Shoulder dislocation is the most prevalent dislocation type in military service. The shoulder joint is inherently unstable and is subjected to extreme loads in ADF activities: parachute operations, weapon carry, combat physical training, load-bearing marches, and close-combat training all create the conditions for traumatic dislocation.
Patellofemoral (kneecap) dislocation and subluxation is common in physical training and combat roles. Finger and wrist dislocations occur frequently during close-combat training, sports, and falls during field exercises.
A single dislocation event often results in chronic joint instability, with the joint prone to recurrence. Chronic instability and associated soft tissue damage, including labral tears, rotator cuff damage, and cartilage injury, are separately claimable as sequelae and often attract their own impairment points.
Medical access
Provisional Access to Medical Treatment (PAMT)
Dislocation is on the PAMT list. This means you can access funded medical treatment while your DVA claim is being assessed — you do not need to wait for a liability decision to start treatment.
Orthopaedic specialist review and management
Physiotherapy and joint rehabilitation
Imaging to assess joint integrity and associated soft tissue damage
Surgical stabilisation where clinically indicated
Pain management services
Deadline: PAMT applications for Dislocation must be lodged by 30 June 2026. After this date, PAMT will no longer be available as the VETS Act takes effect. Do not wait.
Statement of Principles — in plain English
DVA assesses your claim against a Statement of Principles (SoP). Here are the key factors that most commonly apply to Dislocation claims, translated from the legal language.
Physical trauma to the joint, the primary pathway for most service-related dislocations
A traumatic event that applied sufficient force to the joint to cause complete or partial loss of articular surface contact
Damage to a soft tissue structure supporting the joint (capsule, tendon, ligament, or fibrocartilage)
Documented or clinically plausible injury to a supporting structure of the affected joint during the relevant service period
Fracture, avulsion, or bony abnormality at the joint
A bony injury or abnormality at the joint that compromised its structural integrity
Disease process affecting the joint, including neurological conditions, inflammatory or degenerative joint disease, or intra-articular lesion
An accepted disease process affecting the joint at the time of dislocation
Wide mouth opening (TMJ dislocation only)
Forced wide opening of the jaw causing temporomandibular joint dislocation
Inability to obtain appropriate clinical management
Circumstances preventing access to timely and appropriate management of the dislocation
Conditions that commonly develop alongside
Veterans with Dislocation often develop related conditions that may also be claimable. These are worth assessing at the same time as your primary claim.
What to expect for impairment points
Impairment from a single dislocation that resolved fully without complications will generally attract minimal points. However, most service-related dislocations cause lasting sequelae that are where the significant impairment lies.
Chronic shoulder instability following a first dislocation, a very common outcome, is assessed under the joint instability and rotator cuff SoPs. Labral tears resulting from shoulder dislocation attract separate impairment assessment. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis developing in a previously dislocated joint is also separately claimable.
The strategic approach is to ensure all sequelae of the original dislocation are identified and claimed. The combined impairment across dislocation, instability, associated soft tissue damage, and any post-traumatic arthritis will produce a significantly higher CIS than the dislocation alone.
Use the DVA PI Points CalculatorWhat a strong Dislocation claim looks like
Medical records or imaging from the time of the original dislocation
Service records establishing that the injury occurred during service activities
Current orthopaedic or specialist report assessing joint stability and residual functional impairment
Imaging showing any associated structural damage: labral tears, rotator cuff pathology, cartilage changes
Statement describing how the injury occurred and the progression of symptoms since service
Evidence of any surgical intervention undertaken to stabilise the joint
DVA currently takes 3–6 months to decide most initial liability claims. Complex or multi-condition claims can take longer. Lodging a complete, decision-ready claim upfront reduces back-and-forth.
Processing times guideCommon questions about Dislocation claims
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