DVA Claims Advocacy
Get Your DVA Claim
Done Right.
DVA claims are complex. The evidence requirements are exacting. The system is not designed to be easy to navigate alone. Advocates Online builds the strongest possible case for the outcome you are entitled to — and we fight for it.
Get my claim assessed — freeThe basics
What is a DVA claim?
A DVA claim is a formal request asking the Department of Veterans Affairs to accept that a health condition — physical or psychological — is related to your military service. When DVA accepts a claim, it is called a liability decision. Once liability is accepted, you can access DVA-funded treatment, compensation payments and — depending on the severity of your conditions — a DVA health card.
The DVA claims process is governed by the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) for all new claims from 1 July 2026. It involves specific evidence requirements, Statements of Principles that define what must be proven for each condition, and formal assessment by DVA decision-makers.
The most important thing to understand about DVA claims
DVA does not actively seek out veterans who are entitled to compensation. The burden is on you to lodge a claim, provide the right evidence and make the case for why your condition is service-related. An advocate's job is to do that work correctly, so DVA has everything it needs to say yes the first time.
What a DVA claim covers
- Liability — formal acceptance that your condition is service-related
- Treatment — DVA-funded GP, specialist, hospital, allied health, dental, optical and pharmacy
- Compensation — weekly incapacity payments and permanent impairment lump sums
- Rehabilitation — medical and vocational rehabilitation
- Health cards — White Card (accepted conditions) or Gold Card (all conditions) eligibility
The process
How the DVA claims process works
The DVA claims process has five stages. Understanding each stage — and what happens at each one — is the difference between a claim that succeeds and one that gets delayed or rejected.
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Advocate assessment — before you touch MyService
Before lodging anything, a VAPSA-accredited advocate reviews your service history, your medical history and the conditions you want to claim. We identify which conditions are claimable, what the relevant Statement of Principles requires, and what evidence you need to gather. This assessment is free.
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Evidence gathering
We identify the exact evidence DVA needs — your ADF service medical records, civilian treating practitioner reports, specialist assessments, service history and any supporting documentation. We tell you what to request and from whom, and we review everything before lodgement.
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Statement of Facts preparation
A Statement of Facts presents your evidence in the specific format DVA decision-makers use to assess claims. It connects your service history to your medical evidence and demonstrates — explicitly — how the relevant Statement of Principles is satisfied. A well-prepared Statement of Facts is frequently the difference between an accepted and a rejected claim.
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Lodgement through MyService
All new MRCA claims are lodged through DVA's MyService portal. Your advocate guides you through the lodgement process and ensures the claim is submitted correctly with all required documentation.
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DVA assessment and decision
DVA assesses your claim against the relevant Statement of Principles and issues a liability determination. If accepted, your entitlements begin. If rejected, your advocate advises on review options — internal review, Veterans Review Board, or Administrative Appeals Tribunal — and represents you through the appeal process.
How long does a DVA claim take?
Processing times vary significantly. Some liability decisions are made within weeks. Complex claims involving multiple conditions or historical service can take many months. The single most effective way to reduce processing time is to submit a complete, well-evidenced claim from the outset. Incomplete claims are delayed and often rejected — requiring the review process, which adds further time.
What we claim for
Conditions Advocates Online claims for
We work across the full range of service-related conditions — physical, psychological, and everything in between. These are the most common condition categories we handle:
If your condition is not listed here it does not mean it is not claimable. Contact Advocates Online for a free assessment of your specific situation.
Retrospective invalidity claims
Some of our most significant outcomes have come from retrospective invalidity cases — veterans discharged years or decades ago whose conditions were never formally recognised. Class A invalidity classifications have been secured and backdated to original discharge dates. If you were discharged without medical recognition of conditions you were already carrying, speak to an advocate. The conversation is free.
DVA reform July 2026
What the July 2026 DVA reform means for your claim
From 1 July 2026, all new DVA claims must be lodged under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (MRCA). The Veterans' Entitlements Act (VEA) and the Defence-Related Claims Act (DRCA) are now closed to new lodgements.
If you have existing accepted claims under VEA or DRCA — nothing changes. Your entitlements continue exactly as they are.
If you have never lodged a claim — MRCA is now your pathway, regardless of when you served.
Served before 2004 and never claimed?
The VEA window has closed — but your pathway is not necessarily closed. Speak to an advocate about whether MRCA applies to your situation or whether legacy provisions exist. Many veterans in this situation still have a viable pathway. Contact AO before assuming the door is closed.
Read the complete plain-English guide to DVA changes July 2026 →
Why Advocates Online
What makes Advocates Online different
VAPSA accreditation — the professional standard
VAPSA is the independent professional body that sets and enforces ethical standards for veteran advocates in Australia. VAPSA accreditation means Advocates Online operates under an externally enforced code of conduct — not a self-declared one. It is the difference between a professional advocate and an unqualified practitioner.
We fight for the outcome — not just the lodgement
Any service can fill in a form and lodge a claim. What we do is build the strongest possible case for acceptance. That means understanding the relevant Statement of Principles in detail, identifying and obtaining the exact evidence DVA needs, and presenting the claim in a format that leaves the decision-maker with no reason to say no.
If DVA says no — we keep going
A rejection is not the end of the road. We represent veterans through internal reviews, Veterans Review Board hearings and — where necessary — the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Our advocates know the VRB process and have a strong record of overturning first-instance rejections on appeal.
Free first consultation — always
The first conversation with Advocates Online costs you nothing. We will assess your situation, identify which conditions are claimable, explain your options and give you an honest picture of what the process involves. You decide whether to proceed. No pressure, no obligation.
Common questions
DVA claims — frequently asked questions
Speak to a VAPSA-accredited advocate before you lodge anything. An advocate will assess which conditions are claimable, what evidence you need and the strongest way to present your claim. All new DVA claims from 1 July 2026 are lodged under MRCA through the MyService portal. Book a free consultation →
Processing times vary. Some liability decisions are made within weeks. Complex claims can take many months. The single most effective way to reduce processing time is a well-evidenced claim lodged correctly from the outset. Incomplete claims are delayed and often rejected — requiring the review process which adds further time.
A DVA claim is the initial lodgement asking DVA to accept that your condition is service-related. An appeal is the process of challenging a rejection or inadequate outcome through an internal review, the Veterans Review Board (VRB), or the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). Read more about appeals →
You are not legally required to use an advocate. But veterans with professional advocacy support consistently achieve better outcomes than those who navigate the system alone. An advocate knows the evidence requirements, the Statement of Principles, and how to present a claim in the format DVA assessors are looking for.
The initial consultation with Advocates Online is always free. The question is not whether you can lodge without an advocate — it is whether you want to.
MRCA is the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004. From 1 July 2026, all new DVA claims must be lodged under MRCA. The VEA and DRCA are closed to new lodgements. Existing claims already lodged under VEA or DRCA continue unchanged. Read the full DVA reform guide →
A Statement of Principles (SoP) is DVA's formal checklist for each condition. It sets out exactly what must be demonstrated to establish that your condition is service-related. SoPs are specific, detailed and technical — they cover the type of evidence required, the timeframes involved, and the causal links that must be proven. An advocate who knows the relevant SoP can build a claim that satisfies it precisely.
Ready to get your DVA claim assessed?
Our VAPSA-accredited advocates will review your situation, identify your claimable conditions and explain exactly what the process involves. The first consultation is always free.