Musculoskeletal
DVA Joint Instability Payout & Compensation Claims
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.
Joint instability is often a sequela of a prior traumatic injury, including ligament tears, labral damage, or recurrent dislocations during service. It can be claimed alongside the primary injury.
Reviewed by Luke Martin · Co-Founder, Clear Path Veterans · Updated May 2026
Why Joint Instability is common in the ADF
Ligament injuries and recurrent dislocations during physical training, combat activities, and parachuting are the primary causes of joint instability in veterans. The shoulder is the most commonly dislocated joint in physically active military personnel.
Medical access
Provisional Access to Medical Treatment (PAMT)
Joint Instability 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.
Physiotherapy and joint stabilisation programs
Orthopaedic specialist consultations
Imaging as clinically indicated
Deadline: PAMT applications for Joint Instability 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 Joint Instability claims, translated from the legal language.
Trauma to the joint causing ligamentous injury or dislocation during service
Physical trauma to the joint causing acute instability, not necessarily formally recorded at the time
Conditions that commonly develop alongside
Veterans with Joint Instability 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
Joint instability impairment is assessed under GARP M based on the frequency and severity of giving-way episodes, functional limitation during load-bearing and overhead activities, pain, and whether stabilisation surgery has been performed. Recurrent instability that limits daily activities or work capacity attracts higher ratings than mild, infrequent episodes.
Where instability co-exists with the original injury (e.g., ligament tear or labral damage), both conditions are assessed separately. The instability adds its own impairment component on top of the primary condition. Veterans who have had stabilisation surgery should ensure their post-operative functional status is fully documented, residual instability or functional restriction following surgery is still assessable.
Use the DVA PI Points CalculatorWhat a strong Joint Instability claim looks like
Clinical assessment documenting instability
Imaging confirming structural pathology
Service records establishing the initial traumatic event
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 Joint Instability claims
Ready to claim Joint Instability?
Book a free consultation and we'll walk you through whether your condition meets the SoP factors, what evidence you need, and how to build a decision-ready claim.
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The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice. Clear Path Veterans Pty Ltd (ABN 78 690 447 879) is not a law firm and our team are not registered legal practitioners. For medical concerns, consult a qualified health professional. For legal advice, consult a lawyer experienced in military compensation law. Individual circumstances vary and outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case.