The RMA is a panel of five medical and scientific experts appointed by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs after consultation with the ex-service and veteran community.

The role of the RMA is:

•       to determine whether there is sound medical-scientific evidence that links particular kinds of injury, disease or death with war or defence service; and
•       to reflect the causal links in legally binding Statement of Principles (SoPs).

According to subsection 5D(1), an injury means any physical or mental injury (including the recurrence of a physical or mental injury) but does not include:

• a disease, or
• the aggravation of a physical or mental injury.

According to subsection 5D(1), disease means:

• any physical or mental ailment, disorder, defect or morbid condition (whether of sudden onset or gradual development), or
• the recurrence of such an ailment, disorder, defect or morbid condition,

but does not include:

• the aggravation of such an ailment, disorder, defect or morbid condition, or
• a temporary departure from:

the normal physiological state, or

the accepted ranges of physiological or biochemical measures,

that results from normal physiological stress (for example, the effect of exercise on blood pressure) or the temporary effect of extraneous agents (for example, alcohol on blood cholesterol levels).

The Veterans' Review Board is an independent statutory authority that has the power to review decisions made by the Repatriation Commision for the Disability Compensation Payment, war widow's/widower's pension, orphan's pension and attendant allowance.