IVA Systemic Advocacy: Closing the Medical Evidence Gap for Transitioning Veterans

IVA has written to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs raising concerns about the medical evidence requirements affecting serving and recently transitioned Australian Defence Force members.

Many serving members receive their healthcare through Defence medical services or Defence-contracted providers and do not have an established civilian GP. Difficulties arise when Defence providers are unable or unwilling to prepare reports for a DVA claim, while evidence from a newly engaged civilian doctor may not be accepted because the treating relationship is considered too recent.

This can leave members and veterans caught in an administrative gap, without a clear pathway to obtain the medical evidence required to support their claim. The issue can be particularly significant for mental health claims, where continuity of care, trust and cultural safety are critical.

IVA’s open letter calls for DVA and Defence to establish a clear and nationally consistent evidence pathway for serving and transitioning members. Recommendations include:

• requiring Defence-contracted health providers to supply appropriate reports and evidence for DVA claims;

• continuing that obligation for at least 12 months after separation;

• recognising evidence from Defence health providers as treating evidence where they have provided relevant clinical care;

• ensuring newly established civilian medical evidence is not rejected solely because the treating relationship is less than 12 months old; and

• improving access to appropriately funded telehealth assessments.

These reforms would maintain the integrity of DVA’s evidence requirements while reducing unnecessary delays and ensuring veterans are not disadvantaged by the structure of Defence healthcare.

Read IVA’s open letter to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (Link Below)

For media enquiries contact: admin@iva.org.au

For more information Open Letter to Secretary DVA