DVA has the final say on your own claim, card or approval. To ask about yours, call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372), Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm AEST, or track your claim in MyService.
Making a DVA claim
How do I lodge a DVA claim?
Get a diagnosis from a qualified health professional for each condition you're claiming. Then sign in to MyService through myGov, choose Apply now, select Initial Liability and follow the prompts. If you'd rather not claim online, you can lodge a paper form. You don't need to arrange extra medical reports first; if DVA needs more evidence, it will ask and tell you whether it will pay for it.
Where can I get free help with a claim?
Ex-service organisations offer free advocates trained through the Advocacy Training and Development Program, and they can help you prepare a claim or ask for a review. DVA's Claims Lodgement Assistance program also gives free one-on-one help from trained DVA staff (email [email protected]). Some advocates charge fees, but DVA says paying doesn't guarantee faster processing, a better outcome or more compensation.
How long does a DVA claim take?
DVA publishes average times each month. MRCA initial liability claims received in the 12 months to 31 August 2026 took an average of 136 days, including 42 days waiting for information from outside DVA. Claims for a presumptive liability condition with a confirmed diagnosis may be decided in less than 2 weeks.
See DVA's current claim processing times
Can I get treatment before DVA decides my claim?
Yes, in some cases. Through non-liability health care, DVA pays for treatment of all mental health conditions for anyone with at least one day of continuous full-time ADF service, without a claim being accepted, and it also covers cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis for eligible service. For 20 common conditions, such as tinnitus, osteoarthritis and sprains, PAMT pays for treatment while DVA assesses your claim.
Open Arms offers free, confidential counselling to anyone who has served in the ADF and their families, 24 hours a day, on 1800 011 046. In an emergency, call 000.
Read about PAMT and DVA mental health treatment.
What can I do if DVA rejects my claim?
Read the reasons in your decision letter, which also tells you how to ask for a review and the time limit. For most decisions made from 21 April 2025, you apply to the Veterans' Review Board within 12 months. If the Board doesn't resolve it, you may be able to appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal within 3 months of the Board's decision. A free advocate can help you decide whether to seek a review.
Read about DVA reviews and appeals
Which Act will my claim be decided under?
Claims lodged from 1 July 2026 are assessed under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), whenever you served and whenever the injury or illness happened. Claims lodged under the VEA or DRCA before that date are still decided under those Acts, and payments you already receive continue.
Read about the 2026 legislation changes
Compensation and payouts
Is there an average DVA payout for PTSD or tinnitus?
No. DVA doesn't set a fixed amount for any condition, and a diagnosis alone doesn't decide a payment. DVA first decides whether the condition is related to your service, then assesses permanent impairment from all your accepted conditions and how they affect your life. Another person's payment doesn't predict yours.
Read about PTSD compensation, tinnitus compensation and impairment points.
Veteran Cards and health care
What's the difference between the Gold Card and the White Card?
The Gold Card (Veteran Card – All Conditions) covers clinically needed treatment for all medical conditions. It goes to veterans with certain service or compensation, such as qualifying service and being over 70, or 60 or more impairment points under the MRCA, as well as war widow(er)s and some dependants. The White Card (Veteran Card – Specific Conditions) covers your accepted service-related conditions and may also cover mental health conditions, cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis. You should get a White Card for mental health automatically when you leave the ADF.
Will I pay anything when I use my Veteran Card?
DVA says medical treatment is usually free if your provider accepts your Veteran Card, so ask the provider before your appointment. Prescriptions cost $7.70 each under the RPBS until you reach the Safety Net threshold. If you choose to be treated as a Medicare or private patient instead, DVA won't pay any out-of-pocket costs.
Read what your Veteran Card covers
Does DVA pay for travel to medical appointments?
DVA reimburses reasonable travel costs to get treatment covered by your Veteran Card within Australia, including private car use, parking, tolls, public transport, meals and accommodation. If you meet the criteria, DVA can also pre-book a car with a driver. Claim through MyService or on form D0800, with your receipts.
Read about DVA travel for treatment
Do Veteran Cards give discounts?
States, territories, local councils and some businesses offer concessions to Veteran Card holders, such as cheaper car registration, public transport, electricity and council rates. Each one decides what it offers and which cards qualify, so it depends on where you live and which card you hold.
Read about Veteran Card discounts and concessions
Household Services
Does a Gold or White Card mean I'm approved for Household Services?
No. A Veteran Card doesn't approve help at home on its own. Household Services is a separate DVA decision, for people who can't manage household tasks because of an accepted service-related condition. DVA's written determination sets out which tasks it will pay for, how many hours and for how long.
Read how DVA Household Services work
How do I apply for DVA Household Services?
Fill in DVA form D9319, Claim for Household Services Compensation, and email it to [email protected] or post it to GPO Box 9998, Brisbane QLD 4001. Describe which tasks your condition stops you doing and how often you need help. DVA arranges any assessment it needs, then sends a determination. From 1 July 2026, all new claims are assessed under the MRCA, and veterans with conditions accepted under the VEA can now apply.
Read about claiming Household Services
What household services does AusVeterans provide?
AusVeterans provides domestic cleaning, lawn mowing and gardening, window cleaning and gutter cleaning for veterans whose DVA Household Services approval includes that work. We work across Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and the Gold Coast. We don't provide Attendant Care, personal care or meal preparation, even though DVA can approve some of these.
Read about cleaning, lawn mowing and gardening, window cleaning and gutter cleaning.
Do I pay anything for household services from AusVeterans?
No. We invoice DVA directly through its Provider Upload Page for the work in your approval, so you pay nothing. To book, have your DVA file number, claim reference, TRN and current approval letter ready.
Can I get Household Services and Veterans' Home Care at the same time?
Not for the same kind of help. If DVA approves Household Services under the MRCA, you can't also get domestic assistance or home and garden maintenance through Veterans' Home Care. Gold and White Card holders can still ask for a VHC assessment for respite care, which is only available through VHC. Veterans' Home Care has its own assessment, and co-payments apply to some of its services.