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.
Osteoarthritis is not one condition. Each affected joint is a separate diagnosis and a separate DVA claim. Veterans with bilateral knee OA, for example, have two separate conditions to claim. It is important to identify and claim all affected joints, not just the most painful one.
This is a PAMT-eligible condition. You can access funded physiotherapy, specialist consultations, and imaging while your claim is pending. You do not need a determination first.
Why Osteoarthritis is common in the ADF
Military service places extraordinary cumulative load on the musculoskeletal system. Running and marching on hard surfaces, load carriage, parachuting, physical combat training, and vehicle operations all contribute to cartilage wear and accelerated joint degeneration. The hips, knees, and ankles bear the brunt of ground-based service; the shoulders and elbows are commonly affected in technical trades and roles involving overhead work or heavy handling.
Acute joint injuries during service, including sprains, strains, and trauma, also accelerate osteoarthritic change in the affected joint. Post-traumatic OA following a service injury is a well-recognised pathway and is covered under the SoP.
Medical access
Provisional Access to Medical Treatment (PAMT)
Osteoarthritis 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 exercise physiology programs
Orthopaedic specialist consultations
Hydrotherapy and aquatic physiotherapy
Imaging (MRI, CT, X-ray) as clinically indicated
Pain management programs and pain clinic access
Deadline: PAMT applications for Osteoarthritis 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 Osteoarthritis claims, translated from the legal language.
Performing physically demanding work involving repetitive or forceful movements of the affected joint
At least 1,000 hours of qualifying physical work within any 10-year period before onset
Trauma to the affected joint during service
Injury to the joint during service, not necessarily formally recorded at the time. A statutory declaration can establish the history
Weight-bearing load carriage affecting lower limb joints
Carrying loads of at least 25 kg regularly across the service period for qualifying lower limb joint claims
Parachuting: compressive loading on landing
At least 20 descents carrying qualifying loads for hip, knee, and ankle claims
Conditions that commonly develop alongside
Veterans with Osteoarthritis 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
Each affected joint with osteoarthritis is assessed separately for impairment under GARP M. The assessment measures range of motion, pain, crepitus, deformity, and functional limitation. For lower limb joints, gait analysis and weight-bearing function are also relevant.
Mild OA of a single joint may attract 2–5 impairment points. Moderate-to-severe OA, particularly in weight-bearing joints, can attract 8–20+ points per joint. With multiple affected joints, the combined impairment calculation can result in a substantial combined impairment score, which is why identifying and claiming all affected joints is so important.
Use the DVA PI Points CalculatorWhat a strong Osteoarthritis claim looks like
Imaging of each affected joint: X-ray shows joint space narrowing and osteophytes; MRI provides more detail on cartilage and soft tissue
Orthopaedic or specialist medical report confirming diagnosis and assessing severity
Service records showing physically demanding roles, load carriage, or traumatic joint injuries during service
Statutory declaration detailing the physical demands of your service and any acute joint injuries
GP records showing symptom history from discharge to present
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 Osteoarthritis claims
Ready to claim Osteoarthritis?
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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