Impairments must be caused by accepted injuries to be compensable. Section 4 of the DRCA defines an 'impairment' as:
The Guide to the Assessment of the Degree of Permanent Impairment 2023 (the DRCA PI Guide) is used to assess Defence-related claims. The DRCA PI Guide expands on the definition of impairment in the 'Principals of Assessment' to include:
The degree of impairment is assessed by reference to the impact of that loss by reference to the functional capacities of a normal healthy person. Impairment is measured against its effect on personal efficiency in the activities of daily living in comparison with a normal healthy person.
Whole Person Impairment (WPI) is defined in the Introduction of the DRCA PI Guide, as:
While the Approved Guide tries to encompass the concept of WPI, the High Court decisions in Canute v Comcare (2006) HCA 47 [2](Canute [3]) and Fellowes v MRCC [4][2009] HCA 38 (Fellowes [4]), as well as the Full Federal Court decision in Robson v MRCC [5][2013] FCAFC 101 (Robson) [5] must be considered in determining which impairment values are combined, and which must be assessed separately. See chapter 3.4 [6] for more information on WPI.
Links
[1] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=node/20717%23comment-form
[2] http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/cth/HCA/2006/47.html?stem=0&synonyms=0&query=canute
[3] http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/C2004A03668
[4] http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/cth/HCA/2009/38.html?stem=0&synonyms=0&query=fellowes
[5] http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/cth/FCAFC/2013/101.html?stem=0&synonyms=0&query=robson
[6] https://clik.dva.gov.au/military-compensation-srca-manuals-and-resources-library/permanent-impairment-handbook/ch-3-concepts/34-whole-person-impairment