Average DVA Payout for PTSD (2026)

Most veterans with service-related PTSD receive between $30,000 and $300,000+ in permanent impairment compensation under the MRCA, depending on severity, lifestyle impact, and service type. PTSD is one of the highest-scoring conditions in the DVA system because it affects almost every area of daily functioning.

That range is wide because PTSD impairment ratings under GARP M span from 10 to 60 points depending on clinical severity, and the lifestyle effects rating acts as a significant multiplier on top. A veteran with moderate PTSD and limited lifestyle impact will receive a very different payout to a veteran with severe PTSD that has destroyed their capacity to work, maintain relationships, and function independently.

How DVA assesses PTSD impairment

PTSD is assessed under GARP M Chapter 5 (Psychiatric Impairment). The assessment has two components that combine to determine your compensation.

Clinical impairment rating. A psychiatrist assesses the severity of your PTSD against the GARP M psychiatric tables. The rating is based on how your symptoms affect six areas: self-care and personal hygiene, social and recreational activities, travel, social functioning (relationships and interactions), concentration and task completion, and employability. Each area is scored, and the overall rating falls into defined impairment point brackets.

The approximate impairment point ranges for PTSD:

Lifestyle effects rating. Assessed separately from the clinical impairment. This looks at how your PTSD (combined with all your other accepted conditions) affects your mobility, recreation, relationships, and employment across your whole life. The lifestyle rating is categorised from ‘none’ through to ‘total’ and acts as a multiplier on your impairment points when calculating the compensation factor.

For PTSD, the lifestyle effects rating is often where the real value sits. A veteran with 30 impairment points and a ‘total’ lifestyle effect will receive significantly more than a veteran with 30 points and a ‘moderate’ lifestyle effect.

What each impairment level is worth

These are approximate lump sum ranges for PTSD as a standalone condition under the MRCA, based on 2026 indexed rates. Actual amounts vary based on age, gender, dependants, lifestyle effects rating, and whether you have other accepted conditions that combine with your PTSD score.

These numbers increase further when PTSD is combined with other accepted conditions. Most veterans with PTSD also have physical conditions (back injuries, knee injuries, hearing loss) that add impairment points. The combined impairment score is calculated using the Combined Values Chart in GARP M Chapter 18, and the total CIS determines your final payout.

The SoP factors for PTSD

DVA uses the Statement of Principles for PTSD (SoP No. 4 of 2014 under reasonable hypothesis, SoP No. 5 of 2014 under balance of probabilities) to determine whether your PTSD is service-related.

The central SoP factor for most ADF veterans is experiencing a category 1A or 1B stressor:

• Category 1A stressors. Experiencing, witnessing, or being confronted with an event that involved actual or threatened death, serious injury, or threat to physical integrity. This covers combat, operational incidents, vehicle accidents during service, witnessing casualties, body recovery, and exposure to the aftermath of violence.
• Category 1B stressors. Experiencing a severe stressor. This includes sexual assault, being held captive, being subjected to torture, or being the victim of severe physical abuse during service.

The stressor doesn’t need to be a single dramatic event. Cumulative operational exposure counts. Multiple deployments, sustained threat environments, repeated exposure to traumatic stimuli (including for roles like medics, intelligence analysts, or military police), and prolonged operational stress can all satisfy the SoP criteria.

Clinical onset must occur within a defined timeframe after the stressor. For PTSD, this is typically within the person’s lifetime (there is no fixed time limit between the stressor and onset, unlike some other conditions).

Where veterans lose points in the PTSD assessment

• Downplaying symptoms in the psychiatric assessment. Military culture trains you to minimise. The GARP M assessment is not the place for that. If you can’t sleep, say so. If you avoid crowds, say so. If your relationship has deteriorated, say so. If you drink to manage symptoms, say so. The psychiatrist can only score what you tell them and what they observe.
• No treating psychiatrist relationship. If you don’t have a treating psychiatrist and only see one for the DVA assessment, the assessor has no longitudinal picture of your condition. A treating relationship gives weight to the assessment because the psychiatrist can speak to how your condition has progressed over time.
• Missing the lifestyle effects statement. If your submission doesn’t include a detailed statement about how PTSD affects your daily living, mobility, recreation, relationships, and work, the delegate has less evidence to assign a higher lifestyle rating. Be specific. Don’t say “I struggle socially.” Say “I haven’t attended a social event in two years. My partner and I separated in 2024 because of my anger and withdrawal.”
• Not claiming comorbid conditions. PTSD rarely exists alone. Depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, and adjustment disorder commonly co-occur. If you have a separate diagnosable condition alongside PTSD, it should be claimed separately. Each accepted condition can contribute additional impairment points.

PTSD and NLHC

If you have at least one day of continuous full-time service with the ADF, you can access free treatment for any mental health condition (including PTSD) under Non-Liability Health Care, without lodging a compensation claim. This means you can start treatment immediately while your claim is being processed, or even before you decide to claim.

NLHC covers GP visits, psychiatrist appointments, psychologist sessions, and medication for mental health conditions. It’s separate from your compensation claim and doesn’t affect your PI assessment.

Reassessing if your PTSD has worsened

If your PTSD was assessed years ago and has since deteriorated, you can request a reassessment. This is common with PTSD because the condition often worsens over time, particularly after major life changes (retirement, relationship breakdown, loss of routine).

You need evidence that the condition has worsened since the last assessment. A current psychiatric report addressing the GARP M criteria is the most straightforward path. If the reassessment results in a higher impairment rating, your PI payment is recalculated. If it somehow scores lower, your existing rating is preserved.

What to do next

If you have service-related PTSD and haven’t claimed, you’re likely leaving significant money on the table. If you’ve claimed but never had a PI assessment, the same applies. And if your PTSD has worsened since your last assessment, a reassessment could shift your impairment points into a higher compensation tier.

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim PTSD if I wasn’t in combat?

Yes. The SoP stressor categories cover a wide range of traumatic experiences beyond combat. Sexual assault, workplace bullying that meets the severity threshold, witnessing accidents, body recovery, and prolonged exposure to threatening environments all qualify. Non-combat roles (medics, logistics, intelligence, military police) frequently develop PTSD from operational exposure.

Does DVA require a specific diagnosis for PTSD?

Yes. DVA requires a diagnosis of PTSD from a psychiatrist, made in accordance with DSM-5 criteria. A GP diagnosis is not sufficient for the liability claim. For NLHC mental health treatment, a psychiatrist diagnosis is also required, though DVA can arrange the appointment for you.

Can I claim PTSD and depression as separate conditions?

Yes, if they are separately diagnosable. PTSD and major depressive disorder are distinct diagnoses under the DSM-5. If your psychiatrist confirms both, each can be claimed and assessed for impairment separately. The impairment points from each condition are combined using the Combined Values Chart. This can significantly increase your total CIS and your payout.

How long does a PTSD claim take?

Initial liability claims for PTSD typically take four to eight months. The PI assessment stage adds another two to six months after the condition has stabilised. Total time from lodgement to PI payment is usually eight to 14 months, though complex cases with multiple conditions can take longer.

What if my PTSD claim was rejected?

A rejection doesn’t mean the answer is permanent. Common reasons for PTSD claim rejections include insufficient evidence of a qualifying stressor, lack of a formal psychiatric diagnosis, or the delegate applying the wrong standard of proof. If your claim was rejected, read our guide to DVA appeals or book a discovery call and we’ll review the decision.