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.
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 based on the frequency and severity of instability episodes, functional limitation, and whether stabilisation surgery has been performed.
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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