A DVA claim, formally an initial liability claim, asks the Department of Veterans' Affairs to accept that an injury or medical condition is related to your Australian Defence Force service. Once DVA accepts a condition, you can get treatment for it and may be eligible for rehabilitation and compensation.
What you can get when DVA accepts your claim
An accepted condition can give you access to:
- treatment for the condition, using your Veteran Card
- rehabilitation to help you recover and return to work or daily activities
- incapacity payments if the condition affects your ability to work
- permanent impairment compensation for lasting effects of the condition
After DVA accepts liability, a DVA delegate completes a needs assessment with you before any compensation is paid. It works out which benefits, services and support you need.
Who can make a DVA claim?
Current and former ADF members, including reservists, can claim for an injury or health condition that relates to their service. Serving members can also get help from a Veteran Support Officer on base.
Claims lodged from 1 July 2026
New compensation and rehabilitation claims lodged from 1 July 2026 are assessed under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), regardless of when the injury or condition occurred. Claims lodged before that date under the VEA or DRCA continue under those Acts.
From the same date, DVA accepts 80 or more common service-related conditions automatically if your service meets the criteria, plus conditions linked to specific exposures such as F-111 fuel tank work. See which conditions DVA accepts automatically.
The DVA claims process
- Get a medical diagnosis. A qualified health professional must confirm each condition you're claiming.
- Sign in to MyService. You need a myGov account with DVA linked.
- Submit your claim. In MyService, choose Apply now, select Initial Liability and follow the prompts. If you'd rather not claim online, you can use a paper form.
DVA then checks your claim, assesses it against your medical evidence and service records, and tells you the outcome. During the process DVA contacts you about every 30 days. You can track the claim in MyService. See how long DVA claims take.
You don't need to arrange extra medical assessments or reports before lodging. If DVA needs more, it will ask and tell you whether it will pay. Check that DVA has requested and approved an assessment before you book or pay for one.
For some conditions, including mental health conditions and cancer, DVA may pay for treatment before your claim is decided, through non-liability health care. For 20 common conditions, PAMT pays for treatment while you wait.
How to lodge your DVA claim
You can lodge the claim yourself in MyService. If you find the DVA system hard to navigate, you can get free help:
- DVA's Claims Lodgement Assistant program connects you with trained DVA staff. Email [email protected].
- DVA offices and Veterans' Access Network sites give in-person help with lodging a claim.
- DVA's general line is 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372), Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm AEST.
Free DVA advocates
Ex-service organisations offer free advocates trained through the Advocacy Training and Development Program (ATDP). They can help you prepare and lodge a claim in MyService, ask for a review, or appeal a decision, and can represent you at the Veterans' Review Board. Many are veterans or family members of veterans. They are independent of DVA.
DVA's Advocacy Register lists ex-service organisations near you and the advocates they have.
How to find a free DVA advocate
If your DVA claim is rejected
Your decision letter explains 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 of the decision. 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 with a review or appeal.
Read about DVA reviews and appeals
DVA claims help in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin and Newcastle
The process is the same wherever you live. In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Darwin, Newcastle and other cities, you can lodge online through MyService, get in-person help at a DVA office or Veterans' Access Network site, or find a free advocate at a local ex-service organisation through the Advocacy Register.
Read DVA's current claims instructions
Checked against DVA's website on 24 September 2026.
Official and free support
You can lodge and track a claim through DVA’s MyService. Free trained advocates are also available through ex-service organisations.