Spinal Cord Injury Prioritisation Approach
In August 2020, the Client Services Committee (CSC) endorsed an approach for claims concerning Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). This approach recognises that veterans with accepted SCIs are a cohort of veterans who have a high level of complex needs and require specialised Departmental processes to ensure timely processing of claims and prompt access to treatment.
Specifically, the approach will:
A claim for SRDP cannot be accepted after the death of a veteran. A SRDP claim is not required after death in order to pay compensation for dependents.
Liability cannot be accepted for SRDP after a veterans death because at least one of the eligibility criteria can not be met at the point in time the claim is being determined i.e. 199(1)(a) regarding incapacity payments. Section 199 operates prospectively only.
The following policy advice relates to sinus barotrauma and otitic barotrauma (barotrauma) liability claims, and sequela conditions which are considered by medical advice to have arisen from a barotrauma incident.
13.6.6 Government Response to Coronavirus – Coronavirus Supplement
The Coronavirus Supplement was a temporary fortnightly payment for eligible recipients to address the economic impact of the Coronavirus. It was available to certain students receiving support under the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (the Education Schemes).
Eligibility for the Coronavirus Supplement
Other submarine operations – 13 May 1997 to 30 June 2006
Due to a review by Defence, the nature of service for certain submarine service has been re-classified.
Certain submarine service between 13 May 1997 and 30 June 2004 is now Non-Warlike service under the VEA.
Certain submarine service between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2006 is now Non-Warlike service under the MRCA.
The effect of Canute, Fellowes and Robson means that there should be a separate assessment of PI resulting from each separate injury suffered by a person, even when the two injuries result in the same functional loss. This includes injuries which arise from, occur subsequent to, or are caused by an initial injury or associated treatment.
Of course, where two injuries result in separate impairments to separate body parts they must be assessed separately, even if they are assessable under the same Table in the Guide.
Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) Statements of Principles (SOPs) contain factors that specify how a disease, injury or death can be related to service. Some of those factors concern exposures to particular agents (e.g. chemicals) and specify the necessary circumstances of exposure (dose, duration, etc). Factors of this type can be problematic to apply. Understanding whether, in what circumstances, and to what extent, an exposure specified in a SOP factor may have occurred may not be straightforward.
This page contains links to DVA policy, issued as Advisory notes or Commission guidelines, relating to SOPs.
The transitional arrangements under section 13 of the Military, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004 (CTPA) requires that impairment points from VEA and/or DRCA conditions are included as part of the MRCA assessment.
Chapter 25 of the GARP M contains the method for calculating the amount of PI compensation payable in transitional scenarios and requires an assessment of all MRCA accepted conditions and a separate assessment of all VEA/DRCA accepted conditions.
Resting Joint Pain
