DVA Glossary of Terms

Accepted condition

A medical condition that DVA has formally recognised as related to your ADF service. Once accepted, you receive a White Card for treatment of that condition and can lodge a claim for permanent impairment.

ADF

Australian Defence Force. The collective term for the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force.

ADF Cover

The military superannuation scheme for members who joined from 1 July 2016 onward. A pure accumulation scheme. Invalidity benefits are classified by CSC under Section 31A of the trust deed.

Additional Disablement Amount (ADA)

A new payment under the improved MRCA from 1 July 2026 for veterans over pension age with high impairment. Similar to the VEA's Extreme Disablement Adjustment. Comes with a Gold Card.

Aggravation

When a pre-existing condition is made worse by ADF service. DVA can accept a condition on the basis of clinical worsening even if it wasn't originally caused by service.

ART

Administrative Review Tribunal. The federal tribunal that hears appeals of DVA and VRB decisions. Replaced the AAT. Legal representation is typically needed at this level.

ATDP

Advocacy Training and Development Program. The nationally recognised training framework for DVA advocates. ESO advocates trained through ATDP are covered by professional indemnity insurance.

Balance of probabilities (BoP)

The standard of proof for peacetime service claims. You need to show it is more likely than not that your condition was caused by service. This is a higher bar than reasonable hypothesis.

CFTS

Continuous full-time service. At least one day of CFTS makes you eligible for NLHC mental health coverage. This is the minimum service requirement for many DVA entitlements.

CIS

Combined Impairment Score. Your total impairment rating across all accepted conditions, calculated using the Combined Values Chart in GARP M Chapter 18. Your CIS determines your PI lump sum amount and eligibility for Gold Card (60+ points) and SRDP (50+ points).

Class A / Class B / Class C

The three tiers of CSC invalidity classification. Class A is the highest (unable to work in any capacity). Class B is middle (unable to work in a role you were qualified for before joining). Class C is the lowest (able to work in a role you're qualified for).

Clinical onset

The date a condition first manifested with symptoms meeting the SoP definition. This is the date DVA uses to establish when the condition began, not the date of diagnosis.

Clinical worsening

A permanent increase in the severity of a pre-existing condition caused or contributed to by ADF service. The basis for aggravation claims.

Combined Values Chart

The table in GARP M Chapter 18 used to combine multiple impairment ratings into a single CIS. It accounts for diminishing impact of additional impairments, so two conditions at 10 points each don't simply add to 20.

DCP

Disability Compensation Payment. The fortnightly pension paid under the VEA based on your assessed rate of incapacity. Tax-free and not income-tested.

Decision-ready

A claim that contains all required evidence and information so DVA can make a determination without requesting additional material. Decision-ready claims are processed faster.

Delegate

The DVA officer who assesses and decides your claim. Delegates apply the SoP factors and GARP M criteria to determine liability and impairment.

DFRDB

Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits scheme. The military super scheme for members who joined before 1 October 1991. A defined benefit scheme with invalidity classification determined by the CDF's delegate under Section 37 of the DFRDB Act.

DRCA

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988. Covers service from 1 July 1985 to 30 June 2004. Closes to new claims on 1 July 2026.

EDA

Extreme Disablement Adjustment. A VEA payment for veterans with the highest levels of impairment who are over pension age. Being replaced by the ADA under the improved MRCA from 1 July 2026.

GARP M

Guide to the Assessment of Rates of Pension. The reference manual DVA uses to assess permanent impairment. Contains body-system-specific tables for rating the severity of each condition. Your impairment points are determined by where your condition falls on the relevant GARP M table.

Gold Card

DVA Veteran Card (Gold). Covers all clinically necessary medical treatment for all conditions, whether service-related or not. Available at 60+ impairment points under the MRCA, through SRDP eligibility, or through specific VEA pathways. The most valuable healthcare entitlement DVA provides.

IL

Initial Liability. The first stage of a DVA claim where DVA determines whether your condition is connected to your service. Also called the liability decision.

Impairment points

The numerical rating assigned to each accepted condition based on its severity and functional impact. Assessed under GARP M. Your impairment points across all conditions combine into your CIS.

Liability

DVA's acceptance that a condition is connected to your service. Once liability is established, you receive a White Card for that condition and can pursue PI compensation.

MEC

Medical Employment Classification. The ADF's system for categorising your fitness for duty. A restricted MEC (such as MEC J31 or J51) indicates medical limitations on your deployability or employability. Relevant to A-RETRO applications and medical discharge.

MRCA

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004. Covers service from 1 July 2004 onward. From 1 July 2026, the improved MRCA becomes the single Act for all new DVA claims.

MSBS

Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme. The military super scheme for members who joined between 1 October 1991 and 30 June 2016. A hybrid defined benefit/accumulation scheme. Invalidity classification determined by CSC under Rule 30 of the trust deed. Reconsideration available under Rule 22.

NLHC

Non-Liability Health Care. Free treatment for certain conditions without needing to prove a service connection. All mental health conditions are covered for veterans with at least one day of CFTS. Cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis are also covered for veterans with eligible service.

PAMT

Provisional Access to Medical Treatment. Allows DVA-funded treatment for certain conditions while your liability claim is being assessed. Closes 30 June 2026.

PI

Permanent Impairment. The assessment of the long-term functional impact of your accepted conditions. Results in impairment points and a lump sum or periodic compensation payment. PI is a separate claim from liability. DVA does not assess PI automatically. You must lodge a PI claim.

RAP

Rehabilitation Appliances Program. Provides DVA-funded aids and appliances (hearing aids, TENS machines, mobility aids, orthopaedic supports, CPAP machines) at no cost to the veteran when prescribed by a treating practitioner.

Reasonable hypothesis (RH)

The standard of proof for warlike and non-warlike service claims. You need to point to a reasonable hypothesis connecting your condition to your service, based on the SoP factors. This is a lower bar than balance of probabilities.

RMA

Repatriation Medical Authority. The independent statutory body that creates and updates Statements of Principles. The RMA determines which conditions are recognised and what factors establish a service connection.

RPBS

Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The system through which DVA covers prescription medications for veterans with a White or Gold Card. Show your card at the pharmacy to pay the reduced RPBS co-payment.

Rule 22

The provision in the MSBS Trust Deed that allows you to request reconsideration of a CSC invalidity classification. The reconsideration is handled by a separate delegate within CSC.

Section 37

The provision in the DFRDB Act under which the CDF (or delegate) determines invalidity classifications for DFRDB members.

Service Pension

An income-tested and assets-tested fortnightly payment available to veterans with qualifying service at Service Pension age (currently 60). Similar to the Age Pension but available earlier and administered by DVA.

SoP

Statement of Principles. A legislative instrument created by the RMA that lists the specific factors connecting a medical condition to ADF service. Your claim must satisfy at least one factor in the relevant SoP for DVA to accept it. Each condition has two SoPs: one for reasonable hypothesis (warlike/non-warlike) and one for balance of probabilities (peacetime).

TFI

Tinnitus Functional Index. A 25-question assessment tool used to rate the severity of tinnitus. Your TFI score determines your GARP M impairment rating for tinnitus (0, 5, 10, or 15 points). Must be administered by an audiologist for ratings of 10 or 15.

VEA

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. The oldest of the three DVA compensation Acts. Covers service with a connection to conflicts or operations before 1 July 2004. Closes to new claims on 1 July 2026.

VETS Act

Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025. Passed 13 February 2025. Consolidates the VEA, DRCA, and MRCA into a single improved MRCA from 1 July 2026.

Warlike service

Service in declared warlike operations (such as Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor, and Solomon Islands). Attracts the reasonable hypothesis standard of proof (lower bar) and higher PI compensation rates (approximately 1.8x peacetime rates for the same impairment).

White Card

DVA Veteran Card (White). Covers treatment for your specific accepted conditions. Also covers all mental health conditions under NLHC for veterans with at least one day of CFTS.

Whiteman principle

The legal authority supporting retrospective invalidity applications. Establishes that if a veteran's conditions at discharge met the invalidity criteria, the failure to process a medical discharge at the time shouldn't deprive them of the benefit.