Where are you right now?

This is the most common place to be. Most veterans who are eligible never claim — not because they don't qualify, but because no one tells them they do. The system doesn't reach out. You have to know to ask.

Three things you can do right now

• Write down every physical or psychological condition you had during or after service — even things you dismissed as minor. Eligibility is often broader than people expect.
• Check whether your discharge was classified as medical or administrative. This affects what you can claim and how much — and it can be challenged years later.
• Don't file anything yet. A poorly prepared first claim is harder to fix than starting fresh with the right evidence.

Free 15-minute call. No paperwork, no commitment.

The starting point isn't a form — it's your evidence. Most people assume you fill out a claim and attach some documents. But what DVA and CSC are actually assessing is whether your evidence tells the right story, in the right format, with the right clinical language. Starting with the form is starting at the wrong end.

Three things you can do right now

• Request your full service medical records from Defence. This is free and takes 4–6 weeks. You need these before anything else.
• Identify whether your claim is DVA, CSC, or both. They are different systems with different evidence requirements and different timelines.
• Don't get a psychological report yet. An early report from the wrong provider — or using the wrong format — can set you back.

Free 15-minute call. We'll tell you what to gather first.

Most rejections aren't about eligibility. They're about presentation. DVA and CSC assessors read files in a specific way. Evidence that doesn't speak their language gets rejected — even when the underlying case is solid. A previous rejection doesn't close the door. But it does mean the next attempt needs to be built differently.

Three things you can do right now

• Get the rejection letter and read the specific reason. "Insufficient evidence" and "condition not service-related" require completely different responses.
• Don't resubmit the same file. If it was rejected once, the same evidence won't produce a different result.
• Check your timeframes. Reconsideration and appeal windows exist, but they close. Know where you're at before you do anything else.

We review your file and tell you exactly what went wrong and what's worth pursuing.

Waiting doesn't mean it's out of your hands. DVA and CSC process times are long, but there are things that can be done while a claim is in progress — particularly around psychological reports, which are often the bottleneck. A report that doesn't meet technical requirements will be rejected even if the underlying condition is genuine.

Three things you can do right now

• Check whether your psychological report was written by a provider who understands DVA's exact requirements. Most don't — and it's rarely the psychologist's fault, because DVA doesn't publish a clear format guide.
• Find out the current status of your claim via the DVA portal. If you haven't checked recently, check now.
• Don't withdraw a claim to resubmit it. This resets your place in the queue and can affect backdating of payments.

Free 15-minute call. We'll look at what's in and what can still be strengthened.

Lump-sum compensation has specific tax treatment that most accountants get wrong. Veteran income — particularly Lump Sum E payments — is not handled correctly by general practice accountants. The difference between doing this right and doing it wrong is often tens of thousands of dollars.

Three things you can do right now

• Don't put the money into a general offset account or investment without veteran-specific financial advice first. The tax implications are different from standard income.
• Ask your accountant specifically whether they've handled Lump Sum E before. If they haven't, get a second opinion before you lodge your return.
• Check whether your super fund is optimised for veteran income. Most aren't, and the difference in long-term outcomes is significant.

We connect you with brokers and accountants who know this space.