Permanent impairment compensation

What happened: A veteran preparing to medically separate felt their GP’s PI paperwork understated the impact of their accepted conditions. They wanted to know whether DVA would also consider specialist reports and other medical evidence where the GP report did not fully reflect their day-to-day limitations.

What other veterans said: Several commenters emphasised the value of having a clinician who is familiar with DVA Permanent Impairment reporting and GARP, particularly where the veteran is concerned that functional impacts may be understated.

Check the official rule: DVA – Permanent impairment payments under the MRCA

What happened: A veteran approaching PI assessment had a psychiatric report that supported the accepted diagnoses but provided little detail about the effect of those conditions on everyday life. They were concerned that this could make the lifestyle component of the PI assessment less representative of their actual impairment.

What other veterans said: Some commenters described earlier combined Initial Liability and PI medical reports continuing to be relevant where conditions were already considered permanent and stable, while others completed a separate PI report. The applicable process depends on the existing evidence and claim history.

Check the official rule: DVA – Permanent impairment payments under the MRCA

What happened: A veteran awaiting a second PI assessment after additional conditions were accepted wanted clarification about how the assessment would be conducted. In particular, they were unsure whether impairment should be described based on their worst days and whether the new assessment would reconsider all accepted conditions.

What other veterans said: Advice in the discussion conflicted. Some suggested describing a 'worst day', while others noted GARP M and some PI forms focus on usual, day-to-day impairment. Answer the assessment questions accurately rather than using a rehearsed 'worst day' approach.

Check the official rule: DVA – Permanent impairment payments under the MRCA

What happened: A veteran was advised that their MRCA PI claim was 'ready to investigate'. They were unsure what that status meant in practice and whether it indicated that a determination was likely to follow soon.

What other veterans said: Commenters described an evidence-review stage before a PI matter entered the queue for a determining delegate. Several also noted that a delegate may be managing multiple matters, so completion of the medical appointment does not necessarily mean a decision will follow immediately.

Check the official rule: DVA – Claim processing times

What happened: DVA advised a veteran that the medical report for their PI claim had been received and that the matter was ready to be assigned for final determination. With the evidence stage complete, the veteran was trying to understand how long the decision stage typically takes.

What other veterans said: Comments described the PI process moving from the medical report being returned to DVA into a separate delegate-allocation stage. This helps explain why a claim can still remain pending after the medical evidence appears complete.

Check the official rule: DVA – Claim processing times

What happened: A veteran completed a PI assessment after previously dealing with a delegate who arranged the assessment paperwork and referral. Once the assessment was finished, they were unsure whether the claim would return to the same delegate or be allocated elsewhere for determination.

What other veterans said: Commenters described claims moving through an opening or evidence-gathering stage before entering a delegate queue. Some had initially believed the person opening the claim was the determining delegate, only to later learn the matter still needed to be allocated.

Check the official rule: DVA – Claim processing times

What happened: A PI delegate advised a veteran that enough evidence was already available for several accepted conditions, while two conditions required further GP assessment. The veteran was also told that an earlier detailed mental health report might be sufficient for the psychiatric component, raising questions about when existing reports can be reused.

What other veterans said: Comments described situations where a combined mental-health IL/PI report remained part of the PI evidence while separate physical conditions were assessed by a GP. This illustrates that different accepted conditions can reach the PI stage through different medical-report pathways.

Check the official rule: DVA – Permanent impairment payments under the MRCA

What happened: A veteran waiting for MRCA PI assessment was receiving treatment funding for the same claim. They were unsure whether that existing treatment pathway affected the need for a separate PI referral or whether they would still need to wait for the usual assessment paperwork.

What other veterans said: Other veterans described being asked to complete hearing or tinnitus steps again despite earlier acceptance or compensation, and several were unsure why. The thread highlights the value of asking DVA what specific evidence or assessment is outstanding rather than assuming the earlier process will be reused.

Check the official rule: DVA – Permanent impairment payments under the MRCA

What happened: A veteran believed important MRI and specialist evidence was not available to the doctor conducting their impairment assessment. The assessment therefore treated the condition differently from the way later specialist evidence described it, leaving the veteran concerned that the impairment rating did not reflect the full medical picture.

Check the official rule: DVA – Permanent impairment payments under the MRCA

What happened: A veteran preparing for a GP Permanent Impairment assessment wanted to understand what the appointment would typically involve and what information the GP would be expected to assess.

What other veterans said: Veterans described the GP asking how their accepted conditions affect everyday function, and whether more than one condition contributes to the same limitation. Some advice suggested describing only your 'worst day'. GARP M assesses your actual level of impairment against its own criteria, so answer the questions accurately.

Check the official rule: DVA – Permanent impairment payments under the MRCA