DVA Claims
The Role Of The DVA
If you are a veteran navigating a change in both your health and employment as a recently discharged ADF member, you likely have already had experience with the DVA. Preparing and submitting claims to the Department f Veterans Affairs can be incredibly overwhelming and confusing.
The Department Of Veterans Affairs exists to provide a range of services and support intended to assist veterans to manage any injuries both physical and psychological that have occurred during active service.
They also provide additional services such as house cleaning, lawn mowing, laundry and shopping assistance, assistance for managing personal care needs; respite services; assistance with modifications to vehicles; and aids and more. Their goal is to support discharged service members impacted by changes to their health during service to maintain their independence and quality of life.
What Is A DVA Claim?
A DVA claim is a claim made by a former ADF member for compensation regarding the treatment and rehabilitation of injuries or diseases linked to their time in service. These claims are intended to provide financial cover for the medical, hospital and associated allied health services linked with treating eligible veterans, their spouses and dependents.
Who Is Eligible To Claim?
Any former member of the ADF including reservist and cadet positions are eligible to claim support in treating illness or injury that occurred during active service via the DVA claims process. The specifics of your entitlements or right to claim are outlined in the associated legislation.
As per the DVA website:
If your condition is related to service before 1 July 2004, support is available under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA), Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) or Defence Act 1903
If your condition is related to service on or after 1 July 2004, support is available under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA).
There is no cost to submit a claim with the DVA. Likewise, the care received from Veterans Health Centre during your assessment by our health professionals and for any DVA claim support is 100% bulk-billed.
When you engage the help and support of the experts at Veterans Health Centre to both prepare and file your claim, you are positioning yourself to receive a response and payment as rapidly as possible.
What Can You Claim From The Department of Veterans Affairs
There are several aspects you can claim for as a veteran who has medical impairments related to their time in s service.
DVA Claim Types
- Payment for any/all medical treatment linked to your treatment.
- income replacement for periods where your injuries or illness prohibit you from working.
- Permanent impairment compensation where a return to work is not a possibility. This can be provided depending on your preference as a lump sum or as ongoing payments.
- Payment for rehabilitation programs and support to return to work.
How Do I File A DVA Claim?
Filing of claims is done via the completion of a detailed form obtained from the DVA website which is then submitted via the DVA’s online claim portal. Before submission, you will be required to have all supporting documentation available including medical reports, Proof of Identity, a copy of your service history, your ADF medical record, most recent ADF payslip, the incident report and any witness statements (if appropriate).
Avoid Accidental Omissions Or Delays
The extensive and involved nature of the claims process is why we highly recommend filing your DVA claim, including any hospital claims with the support of our health professionals.
How Long Does The Claims Process Take?
The standard claims timeframe as stated by the Department Of Veterans Affairs is up to 75 days. However, should yours be a more complex case and associated claim then the timeframe for processing may be extended.
What Are The Benefits Of Submitting Initial Liability to DVA
The total amount of compensation you will be offered is calculated via a points system. It takes into account the level of physical and/or mental impairment you are left with as a result of your accepted conditions and the impact these impairments have on your life.
Through submission of an initial liability claim, you can gain access to a veteran-specific concession card, with eligibility is determined via the points system. Scored out of 100, veterans will be approved for either a white or gold card depending on their scoring.
There are numerous other benefits to having the Veteran White Card or Veteran Gold Card as a veteran such as free healthcare, subsidised which our team will be happy to walk you through in more detail.
At the Veterans Health Centre we offer comprehensive support to submit these claims including assigning our patients a paralegal Case Manager to review their claims prior to submission.
How We Help
If you feel overwhelmed at the prospect of dealing with the DVA and ensuring your claim is properly prepared for submission, you’re not alone. Our team of experts understand the system intimately and as former ADF members can genuinely empathise with the complexity and emotion involved.
At Veterans Health Centre, we carry out ADF approved medical assessments, help you prepare all paperwork associated with your claim and aid in the submissions process. This enables a more rapid assessment of claims and helps to aid in their approval. Our insights can also provide you with some indication of what the claim outcome may look like.
For all veterans, this easing of the stress and anxiety relating to claims is incredibly beneficial to their overall health and supports positive progress of recovery. To learn more or book an appointment with our team of health professionals, calltoday.
