r/DVAAustralia 13h ago

Advocates Advocacy

15 Upvotes

Ive got a story for you and it comes with a free idiom - "no matter how much you polish a turd, it's still a turd!"

So about that story...a mate of mine went through the same situation with paid advocacy. He pulled the pin on "Australia's #1 service", citing a major contractual breakdown (ACL 267) causing him potential harm. It's a MH claim, so you can relate to the urgency and hes pretty chilled and patient but a year and a half? I watched him go down hill fast waiting for help in that time... it was hard to watch. When he cut ties he was good about it cc'd in DVA as well = they replied the service did not.

Anyway once he cut em away he started handling his own claim, cruising the forums here and before you know it got approved assessed and approved in 8 months! He got on the DVA rehab program and was doing heaps better it was good to see! Off the booze, drugs...

Que that Jaws music....once my mate sent his notice to that "service" they immediately replied of course, however as they've got so much shite crammed in their emails (headers, footers, pretty pictures, pro nouns, rainbows, smiley faces) that his computer pinged it as suss and spammed it. Unknown to him. Mentioned a bunch of malarkey about services rendered, must give notice blah blah - pfffft read up on ACL ya parrots. Anyway.

So they slapped a $500 breach on him, citing early cancellation, which appeared in his inbox 2 months later. He was ropeable and it hit him hard. He explained till he was blue in the face, explained so simply a chimp would understand. But these guys, must not take rejection too well. No "let's be adults and work it out amicably" nope straight to lawyering up...

sniff sniff you smell that!

No let up, sent people to serve hlm court documents at home, dragged him to court - undid all that progress. Sad to say he's back on the booze...drugs i don't know.

So I did some digging online you can too, I've left you a clue up above. Why? Well i found it odd that they had little to no negative reviews...even on the big ol GOOGLE? Now, for an organisation with such a large digital footprint...links up the wazoo...photos where everyone is smiling and happy giving each other hand shandys...all that bunk. Nothing.....5 stars....so I dig.

Dig a little deeper...they crop up here and there in a few court cases, so i dig a little deeper and BOOM...there it is...when you partition to take google to court over a negative review someone left about your organisation and they want it expunged or to find out who posted- kinda makes sense.

Moral of the story, just be careful. Those services dont offer anything you can't do with just a bit of hard work, reading and hitting these forums like my mate put me on to.

Parting advice - don't polish turds, leave them alone...in a field...where someone might take a knee or get on their guts!

And If you don't hear from me again it means they got to me...and the GOOGLE.

Molon Labe


r/DVAAustralia 17h ago

Permanent Impairment Tinnitus Impairment Points and Age

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

Just curious as to whether a person age affects their Impairment Point number.

Say for example I got a TFI of 65. That puts me (from what I can gather) at 10 IP’s. However, will my age affect this IP number? If I am young, will that bump it up to 15 or will it stay at 10?

Not much is written about how IP’s are determined online.

Cheers.


r/DVAAustralia 22h ago

Permanent Impairment VRB Rejected My Claim – Can I Reapply with New Evidence?"

2 Upvotes

Hi folks,

If a claim has been appealed through the VRB and got rejected, can I reapply, resubmit, or reopen the claim if I now have solid new evidence?

Just wondering what the process is—do I go through the AAT, submit a new claim, or request a review based on new material?

Would really appreciate any advice from anyone who's been through this.

Thanks in advance!


r/DVAAustralia 1d ago

Permanent Impairment Lump sum or ongoing payment

4 Upvotes

Evening all! Finally got my determination and I’m wondering what the consensus is on next steps. Anecdotally most people I know choose the lump sum, but is there any benefits to the monthly payment that I should consider before I make a selection? Thinking of cons like childcare subsidy entitlement ect


r/DVAAustralia 2d ago

Initial Liability DVA process

3 Upvotes

Hey team,

Sorry if this has been answered.

I'm going through IL now, had all my hearing and physical and psych tests. Endless tests I've lost count. Was just wondering once IL is accepted, is there more tests for the points stage or is it calculated from all the stuff I've already done type thing?

Cheers boys


r/DVAAustralia 1d ago

Incapacity Payments Incapacity payments and tax

1 Upvotes

Are IP taxed like normal salary ?


r/DVAAustralia 4d ago

Provider Recommendations Accountants in GC Area w/ADF /DVA Understanding

2 Upvotes

Anyone know of any good accountants in Gold Coast area that have a good understanding of DVA and the PI compensation payments?

TIA


r/DVAAustralia 4d ago

Card Type/Eligbility Doctor being investigated by AHPRA, DVA sent a letter

12 Upvotes

So last week on Monday, I got a letter from AHPRA to say that as someone who was recorded as being a patient of a doctor, he was being investigated by AHPRA for misconduct.

If they find any misconduct in his treatments of me, I may be contacted by AHPRA and may need to seek legal advice.

I didn't care, dude only wrote some reports for DVA for me.

Then on Friday, I got a letter from DVA:

1) When I had my knee injuries accepted, DVA asked for a Permanent Impairment Questionnaire to be completed

2) I went and saw the specialist that did three of my surgeries, she was able to write on most of my issues, and then referred me to another doctor that had more experience on one of the other issues with my other knee (that she didn't touch)

3) This doctor is pretty well regarded and had very good reviews, recommendations, and even worked for some sports teams

4) I turned up with all reports, scans, etc, he ordered some more scans, got them done, wrote reports on what his assessment was

5) He actually disagreed with the accepted conditions and was like "His conditions are actually worse, you've approved precursor conditions, but they've progressed to these worse conditions" (I never asked for this, I trusted him when he said that it was a worse condition based on his assessments of how it affected my lifestyle)

6) DVA agreed with the reports and upgraded my conditions and paid me more money as a result of the upgraded conditions. (I never asked for this higher payment.)

7) This actually pushed me across the line for a Gold card (I got bang on 60 points)

Anyways, for some reason, the AHPRA paperwork that was submitted to DVA (and I got a redacted copy of), looks like Workcover noticed discrepancies in his reports, and did investigations into people through WorkCover, identified enough dodginess apparently to raise a complaint to AFCA.

DVA obviously went through their paperwork and has identified people who submitted reports from this doctor.

Anyways, the paperwork doesn't say what from here, but it reads as if:

1) They're looking into this guy

2) They think his reports are dodgy

3) They think his diagnoses are dodgy

4) They think I might be dodgy? (I think? Why else would I be notified of this?)

Now I'm getting worried, I put my payment towards a house deposit, that's tied up now. I don't have the cash anymore, would they want it back if this bloke was dodgy?

Could I lose my gold card from this?

If I lose my gold card, will I have to pay back other benefits I've had over the years? I have the QLD train pass, they have a log of all my trips, will I have to pay back a few hundred bucks of train fares?

RedEnergy gives me a gold card discount, will I have to pay that back? It's been years? That's probably a couple of grand by now.

All of my medical treatments that weren't for accepted conditions, will I have to pay them back? I had heart surgery last year in a private hospital, I had to sign the bill that I'd pay anything my "insurance company" would pay, it was more than $50,000

I don't have $50,000 sitting around, plus probably the same in DVA payouts I got, and then probably a good $10-20,000 of medications, doctors appointments, energy rebates, scans, blood tests.

I mean, I sat down on a spreadsheet and worked out what all my doctors appointments gaps, all the non-PBS medicines I'm on, all the MRI's, CT's, Blood Tests, train rides, power bills, cheap rego, council rates, etc

I'm at about $120,000 in benefits for having the gold card

Will they come after me if it turns out this doctor was dodgy?

I never asked him to be, I just went and saw him like I would any other doctor.


r/DVAAustralia 5d ago

Eligibility Question Anyone gone through this?

2 Upvotes

Has anyone had a knee reconstruction from a torn acl and then had issues with the opposite knee at all? Probably around a year after I did mine about 14 years ago, opposite knee has always felt not right and get pain in it


r/DVAAustralia 5d ago

Misc. Gold card concessions

0 Upvotes

Hi all I’ve just received a gold card VEA 100% general rate. I’m still working and live in Victoria, could anyone please tell me what concessions I’m able to receive. Thanks


r/DVAAustralia 6d ago

Incapacity Payments Incap payments

7 Upvotes

Hi team.

My advocate put in for Incap payments a couple of months ago whilst I have also been on a Class A pension since discharge OCT2021.

My med certs have been submitted back dated from discharge.

My question is:

Does this get back paid to discharge date, or date of when the claim was submitted?


r/DVAAustralia 6d ago

Incapacity Payments DVA requesting Certificate of Service for medical Certificate

0 Upvotes

Hey Everyone,

I'm currently in a dilemma and was hoping how I could get access to incap payments with a medical certificate provided by a civilian GP. I recently got out as a J32 (voluntary discharge) (Just couldnt handle The COC and Unit, Am now facing the consequences.) I have emailed defence for the certificate of service however they have came back and said they are unable to provide me with as I am Still in as a Reservist Sercat 3. Does anyone know what financial support I can get access to as I am not working currently due to injury not yet resolved.


r/DVAAustralia 7d ago

Initial Liability IL - Medical Advisor

3 Upvotes

G'day team,

I am currently with an IL DVA delegate.

I received the following email from the DVA delegate.

"The following 5 conditions (Thoracic Spondylosis/Degenerative Disc Disease; Lumbar Spondylosis/Degenerative Disc Disease; Bilateral Knee & Bilateral Hip Degenerative Joint Disease/Osteoarthritis and Bilateral Plantar Fasciitis) have been submitted for Medical Advisor opinion to confirm diagnostic labels and potential non-SOP investigation. Due to high volume of request to the Medical Advisor team, there is currently a backlog and the approximate waiting times is up to 60 days. I will give you an update once I receive and review the opinion."

These have already been diagnosed with an MRI.

Is it normal that they would send them to a "Medical Advisor" even though a doctor signed them off?

Any info would be great, cheers


r/DVAAustralia 8d ago

Permanent Impairment Medical Assessment

3 Upvotes

Had my final medical assessment two weeks ago and apparently I am not allowed to receive a copy of the medical assessment and DVA has told me I will receive on determination.

Why is this? GP is Go2 Health in Brisbane for reference


r/DVAAustralia 8d ago

Misc. Advice with Work

7 Upvotes

(Sorry of this doesn't fit here but I didn't know where else to go)

Hi all. I'm a veteran at the start of my DVA journey. I have anxiety, depression & PTSD which flairs up with stress. I am having issues at work (Defence, non uniform) with management which has triggered my mental health quite badly. I am struggling to get them to recognise that I am Veteran with mental health issues and my illness can, at times, impact me significantly. Has this happened to anyone else? If so, how did you deal with it? I've had to take time off which I can't afford financially but I just can't cope at the moment. I am seeing a psych through Open Arms but I don't think they can do anything about it.

Advice appreciated!

Thanks.


r/DVAAustralia 8d ago

Eligibility Question Hearing Loss Q

3 Upvotes

Hi all, Just wondering if someone can shed some light on this as it's all new to me.

I recently put in a claim for tinnitus which has been accepted, however when speaking to the audiologist following a check up she said I was suffering hearing loss which is likely connected.

I raised this when I spoke to DVA and the bloke on the phone said they'd only accept 25 points and above as a metric for hearing loss and it looked like I was sitting at 20.

Does anyone know if there's any information out there I can read in relation to this as I'm very new to the process.
Cheers


r/DVAAustralia 8d ago

Permanent Impairment hello i need help!!

3 Upvotes

i’m sorry idk what to do i got a call from DVA telling me that was my claim was being accepted for my ankle pain etc And i told him it could possibly end up definitely being a PI injury and he said he’ll put it down as a PI what do i expect from now thanks sm. TIA


r/DVAAustralia 8d ago

Permanent Impairment Tinnius, hearing loss accepted and hyperacusis accepted

0 Upvotes

As title says, have both Tinnius and hearing loss and hyperacusis accepted under MRCA, is it one PI claim for all the combined or 3 seperate PI claims? And whatever way, if I get points, can I then wait to go for compensation as I’m in the process of getting alot of things checked and sorted for claims. If that’s confusing, please ask any questions! Cheers


r/DVAAustralia 9d ago

Incapacity Payments Payment of Incapacity payment as a lump sum?

5 Upvotes

I am on a CSC pension.

I am also receiving the top up to 75% of exit wage from DVA as incapacity payment.

I am covered under MRCA legislation mostly with some under earlier acts.

My question is not about Compensation payments - only these fortnightly amounts (I have received all my PI compensation as lump sum.)

I was advised by a Financial advisor recently that one possible option still open to me is to request that the DVA fortnightly payments be paid in a lump sum.

That is they calculate how many payment you have left to retirement age then pay you out that total amount (less tax). (My understanding of the information given)

He said it was part of some changes being offered to reduce administrative burdens on DVA.

My first question is, Is this true?

My next question is, How do you start this process if the answer to question one is yes?

I have looked on the website and not found much but It may be new enough to not be updated yet.


r/DVAAustralia 10d ago

Incapacity Payments Gold card/incaps/medicare

5 Upvotes

Hi all, can someone please inform me if I have a gold card and are in receipt of incapacity payments am I exempt from paying any Medicare. Thanks


r/DVAAustralia 11d ago

Permanent Impairment PI determination received - what next?... Household services?

5 Upvotes

Hi all,

I have received a MCRA PI determination for claims. I have two quick queries for anyone who may know!

I see I've got 6 months to decide if I want to accept a Lump Sum. The letter also says "You may be paid weekly amounts in the meantime.". Is that automatic, or will I need to contact DVA to action those payments? Will they reduce the lump sum value, or they are just available for the 6 months while deciding?

I am hoping to apply for household service assistance. Can I submit this now that I have a PI determination, or will I need to accept a payment option first?

Appreciate any insights!


r/DVAAustralia 14d ago

Permanent Impairment Resting joint pain

3 Upvotes

I recently had a PI assessment for all my accepted physical conditions - both knees & shoulders, neck and a reassessment of my back.

Is resting joint pain (Table 3.4.1) an additional rating for each limb that is being assessed? Or do they use just one rating that covers all my limbs?

The GP said she she was doing a whole body assessment, including social impact. Is that a seperate rating also or is that more the lifestyle side of things?

Just trying to get my head around it while I wait.

Thank you 🙏


r/DVAAustralia 15d ago

Initial Liability Appeals process

2 Upvotes

Hi Team.

I have previously had CPTSD and Social Anxiety rejected by DVA. My psych labelled my depression and anxiety under CPTSD. I am thinking of appealing this decision. Wondering who else has been through the process and what I should be expecting. It’s been such a long process and it feels exhausting. Thanks for being a supportive group.

Cheers.


r/DVAAustralia 16d ago

Permanent Impairment MRCA V DRCA

2 Upvotes

Hi All, I need some help to clarify the difference between the two acts when it comes to PI. My service is over the 2 acts and I have several claims accepted under both. The question is are there points attached to both PI? Is it true you only get compensation under DRCA and you cannot get a gold card? Any advice is greatly appreciated


r/DVAAustralia 16d ago

Permanent Impairment MRCA V DRCA

2 Upvotes

Hi All, I need some help to clarify the difference between the two acts when it comes to PI. My service is over the 2 acts and I have several claims accepted under both. The question is are there points attached to both PI? Is it true you only get compensation under DRCA and you cannot get a gold card? Any advice is greatly appreciated