1. Introduction - For Practitioners: Diagnostic & Assessment Guidelines

For the purpose of evaluating psychiatric illness, accurately investigating claims and in the interests of public accountability, the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) must have psychiatric reports of a high standard.

A report from a psychiatrist is usually required.  From 2025, DVA will accept a diagnosis provided by treating Clinical Psychologists and treating General Practitioners for Depressive Disorders and Anxiety Disorders only in addition to those provided by Psychiatrists.  This will apply in the following circumstances:

•    A Clinical Psychologist who has a current, ongoing treating relationship with the veteran.

•    Clinical psychologist reports obtained as part of the Medical Employment Classification process in Defence.

•    Clinical psychologist reports obtained during Defence service or within 1 year of separation from service.

•    A General Practitioner who has a current, ongoing treating relationship with the veteran.

This document provides an outline of DVA's requirements for reports relevant to the diagnosis and assessment of claims for mental health conditions.

In examining claim for compensation, there is a need for practitioners to fully explore the nature of the claimed condition and any other issues that may be relevant. This will necessarily include whether or not there is an association with service. It is expected that practitioners will be sensitive to the wellbeing of claimants, and sympathetic to their service experience.

Such care and thoroughness is also expected in all posthumous cases, e.g. where the widow/er or dependant is applying for a war widow/er's or orphan's pension. The Guideline for operation of posthumous psychiatric diagnosis panel will be provided when relevant and outlines the procedure to be followed in cases where the veteran is deceased and a psychiatric condition forms part of the claim. The Repatriation Commission and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (the Commissions) have approved, in consultation with the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) the establishment of a panel of psychiatrists to provide posthumous diagnoses in such cases. If a panel of psychiatrists are unable to be convened, alternate options can be pursued according to the guideline.

In preparing their reports, practitioners should also take into account the Federal Court's Guidelines for Expert Witnesses in Proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia which may be obtained from the referring officer at DVA or from the Federal Court's website.

These guidelines should be considered because practitioners may be called on to provide evidence in a tribunal or court if any part of the decision is appealed.

Compensation claims made under the VEA and MRCA will be determined using Statements of Principles (SOPs), which are legislative instruments prepared by the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA). The SOPs for psychiatric conditions have definitions that are based on the diagnostic criteria within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria.  As such, DVA requires a psychiatric diagnosis that uses the DSM-5 criteria.

SOPs are not used to determined claims under DRCA but these guidelines should also inform psychiatric claims under this Act.