Whole-of-Person Assessment: How DVA Impairment Changes Under the VETS Act

From 1 July 2026, all new DVA permanent impairment assessments use the MRCA's whole-of-person approach under GARP M (Guide to Determining Impairment and Compensation). This replaces the VEA's GARP V and the DRCA's Permanent Impairment Guide for any new claims. The biggest practical change: DRCA's 10% Whole Person Impairment minimum threshold per condition is gone. Every accepted condition counts, regardless of how small its individual impairment rating is.

How impairment assessment works now (before 1 July 2026)

Under the current three-Act system, how your impairment is assessed depends on which Act covers your claim.

The DRCA approach has left thousands of veterans with uncompensated conditions. Tinnitus (typically around 5% WPI), minor joint conditions, and other lower-rated impairments were deemed not severe enough individually. Under the DRCA model, a veteran could have six accepted conditions each rated at 8% WPI and receive zero permanent impairment compensation for any of them.

How whole-of-person assessment works under GARP M

GARP M assesses your total impairment by combining all your accepted service-related conditions into a single rating from 0 to 100 impairment points. The assessment has two components: medical impairment ratings and lifestyle effect ratings.

Each condition is assessed against the relevant body system chapter in GARP M to produce a medical impairment rating. These are then combined using the combined values method — not simple addition, because a person can't be more than 100% impaired. GARP M then assesses how your combined conditions affect your daily life across several functional domains, adding lifestyle effect points on top. There are no per-condition minimum thresholds. A condition rated at 2 points still contributes those 2 points to your total.

Why this matters for compensation

Impairment points directly determine your compensation. Higher points mean higher permanent impairment compensation. Points thresholds also unlock specific benefits:

• 30 impairment points with Service Pension: Gold Card eligibility
• 50 impairment points with incapacity: SRDP eligibility
• 60 impairment points: Gold Card eligibility (without Service Pension)
• 80 impairment points: Section 80 additional compensation for dependants

For veterans just below these thresholds, the whole-of-person approach could be the difference. If you're a DRCA veteran sitting at 55 points with three uncounted conditions below the old 10% threshold, adding those conditions under GARP M could push you past 60 and into Gold Card eligibility.

The GARP M baseline translation

If you've only ever been assessed under GARP V (VEA) or the DRCA PI Guide, GARP M needs a starting point. DVA is amending GARP M to include a methodology for translating your existing impairment ratings into MRCA-equivalent baselines.

• Your baseline is calculated from previous impairment ratings under VEA or DRCA
• Only ratings from Acts under which compensation was actually paid count toward the baseline — rejected claims with no payment don't inflate your starting point
• For dual-Act veterans with claims under both VEA and DRCA, only the ratings where compensation was paid under each Act are counted
• New compensation under MRCA requires at least a 5-point increase above your translated baseline

The 5-point increase requirement means that simply having your existing conditions re-assessed under GARP M doesn't automatically generate new compensation. Your conditions need to have measurably worsened, or you need to claim new conditions that weren't previously assessed.

What this means for specific conditions

Tinnitus

The most commonly affected condition. Tinnitus typically rates around 5% WPI under DRCA's guide and received zero compensation due to the 10% threshold. Under GARP M, tinnitus is assessed under the Ear, Nose, and Throat body system and contributes its impairment points to your total. If you also have hearing loss — which commonly co-occurs — the combined ENT impairment plus lifestyle effects can be significant.

Bilateral joint conditions

Veterans with bilateral knee osteoarthritis, bilateral shoulder conditions, or bilateral ankle injuries often had each side assessed separately under DRCA, with some falling below the threshold. Under GARP M, both sides contribute to the relevant body system rating.

Minor musculoskeletal conditions

Cervical spondylosis, thoracic spondylosis, and other spinal conditions that individually rated below 10% under DRCA now contribute to the spinal body system chapter in GARP M. Combined with lumbar spondylosis (which typically rates higher), the spinal impairment picture becomes more complete.

Mental health conditions

These typically rate well above the old DRCA threshold, so the change is less dramatic here. However, the lifestyle effect component in GARP M can capture functional impacts — sleep disruption, social withdrawal, relationship breakdown — that pure medical impairment ratings miss.

What you should do

Frequently asked questions

What is whole-of-person assessment?

A method of assessing permanent impairment that combines all your accepted conditions into a single overall rating, rather than assessing each condition separately. Under GARP M, all conditions contribute to a score from 0 to 100 impairment points.

Does the 10% threshold still apply?

No. The DRCA's 10% WPI minimum threshold per condition does not apply under MRCA's GARP M assessment. Every accepted condition contributes to your total impairment points, regardless of its individual severity.

When does whole-of-person assessment start?

For new claims, from 1 July 2026. MRCA veterans are already assessed under GARP M. VEA and DRCA veterans making new PI claims from 1 July 2026 will be assessed under GARP M for the first time.

How are existing impairment ratings translated to GARP M?

GARP M is being amended to include a translation methodology. Your existing VEA (GARP V) or DRCA ratings are converted into an MRCA-equivalent baseline. New compensation requires a 5-point increase above this baseline.

Will my tinnitus now count toward impairment?

Yes, from 1 July 2026. Tinnitus contributes its impairment points to your total under GARP M, regardless of how low the individual rating is. Combined with hearing loss and other conditions, the effect can be meaningful.

Can I get reassessed under GARP M for existing conditions?

You can claim worsening of existing conditions under MRCA from 1 July 2026, which triggers a GARP M assessment. However, you need a 5-point increase from your translated baseline to receive new compensation. Simply being assessed under a different guide doesn't guarantee a higher result.

How does GARP M handle multiple conditions?

Medical impairment ratings for individual conditions are combined using the combined values method (not simple addition). Lifestyle effect ratings are then added based on the overall functional impact across daily living domains. The total gives your impairment points from 0 to 100.