Alcohol Use Disorder Secondary to PTSD or Depression: DVA Claims

Alcohol use disorder secondary to PTSD or depression is one of the most straightforward secondary DVA claims available. The Statement of Principles contains a direct, single-factor link between accepted mental health conditions and alcohol use disorder, with no intermediary steps and no clinical threshold beyond the diagnosis itself.

It is also one of the most under-lodged secondary claims, because many veterans are reluctant to formalise a relationship between their service, their mental health, and their alcohol use. That reluctance is understandable. It is also costly.

The SoP factor

The Alcohol Use Disorder SoP No. 85 of 2025 (Reasonable Hypothesis) contains factor 9(1):

“Having a clinically significant disorder of mental health as specified in the Schedule at the time of the clinical onset of alcohol use disorder.”

The Schedule to SoP No. 85 of 2025 explicitly lists posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, among others. If any of these conditions is accepted by DVA and was present at the time your alcohol use disorder developed clinically, factor 9(1) is potentially satisfied.

What counts as alcohol use disorder

DVA requires a formal diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) under DSM-5-TR criteria. AUD is defined as a problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, with at least two of eleven specified criteria met within a 12-month period. AUD is diagnosed as mild (2–3 criteria), moderate (4–5 criteria), or severe (6 or more criteria).

A formal psychiatric diagnosis or assessment from an addiction medicine specialist is required for the DVA liability stage. A GP noting that a patient drinks heavily is not sufficient — DVA needs a DSM-5-TR diagnosis that confirms the criteria are met.

Why this claim matters strategically

Alcohol use disorder is assessed under GARP M Chapter 5 (Psychiatric Impairment), the same chapter used for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. A veteran with PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and insomnia — all common comorbidities — has three separate GARP M assessments, each producing its own impairment rating.

For veterans sitting below the 60-point Gold Card threshold or the 50-point SRDP threshold, an accepted AUD claim can be the condition that crosses either threshold. The combined impairment score is cumulative across all accepted conditions, and AUD can contribute meaningfully to that total.

Clinical sensitivity and how to approach it

This claim involves disclosing alcohol use to DVA. DVA assesses each claim on its legal and medical merits. A formally diagnosed and accepted AUD does not invalidate other accepted conditions, and DVA does not share claim information with the ADF chain of command as a matter of course.

The clinical framing matters. The claim is not “I drink too much.” The claim is “I have a clinically diagnosed condition under DSM-5-TR criteria that developed in the context of my accepted PTSD, and it is service-related through the SoP pathway.” That framing is accurate and appropriate, and it is how a well-prepared claim should be presented.

What evidence you need

GARP M assessment for alcohol use disorder

AUD is assessed under GARP M Chapter 5 (Psychiatric Impairment). The assessment considers how the disorder affects the same six functional areas used for PTSD and depression: self-care, social and recreational activities, travel, social functioning, concentration and task completion, and employability.

The impairment rating ranges from 10 to 60 points, in the same bands as other psychiatric conditions. The severity of the AUD at its worst — not just at the time of assessment — is relevant. Veterans who have undergone treatment and reduced their drinking may still attract a meaningful rating based on the functional impairment during the active phase of the disorder.

Frequently asked questions

Will claiming alcohol use disorder affect my other DVA claims?

No. Each DVA claim is assessed independently. An accepted AUD does not reduce, modify, or invalidate any other accepted condition or its impairment rating.

My alcohol use has reduced since I got treatment. Can I still claim?

Yes. Past severity, treatment history, and functional impact during the period of active AUD are all relevant to the liability assessment and the GARP M impairment rating. DVA assesses the condition over its clinical history, not just its current state.

Can I claim AUD if my PTSD is still being assessed?

Both claims can be lodged simultaneously. The AUD claim is most straightforward once PTSD liability is accepted, because the accepted condition provides the primary nexus. If lodging concurrently, note in the AUD claim that it is dependent on the PTSD claim being accepted.

I've been sober for several years. Is this claim still relevant?

Yes. The claim is based on the existence and history of AUD as a clinical condition, not current drinking behaviour. A period of active AUD that has since been managed through sobriety remains a claimable condition. The impairment rating will reflect functional impact at its worst, which is still assessable.

Does the BoP standard apply to peacetime veterans for this claim?

Yes. SoP No. 86 of 2025 (BoP version) contains the equivalent factor 9(1). Unlike the depression secondary claim, where the direct tinnitus pathway is absent from the BoP SoP, the mental health pathway to AUD is available under both standards.