Treating doctor – information for veterans
Use of the treating doctor for DVA compensation claim assessments
Key points at a glance
- The term ‘treating doctor’ refers to both GPs and non-GP specialists
- A treating doctor is a practitioner with an established relationship with a veteran who has seen them at least twice in the last 24 months
- DVA prefers the use of the treating doctor for compensation assessments
If you’re a medical practitioner, go to Treating doctor – information for providers.
Why having a regular treating doctor matters
Having a regular doctor can make a real difference to your health, and this includes when you are going through the DVA compensation process. Holistic treatment for service-related conditions, together with care that takes account of your other health needs and personal circumstances, can help improve your overall health and wellbeing.
A doctor who already knows your health history, current treatment and what matters to you is often best placed to explain your condition and identify the support you may need. Importantly, having the same doctor provide treatment and complete your compensation paperwork helps to link the claims process with your ongoing treatment and support.
From DVA’s perspective, medical information from a doctor who already knows you can help us better understand your condition and how it affects you. This may mean less need to repeat your story, fewer extra appointments or repeat tests, and better follow-up if the claims process identifies other health issues that need attention.
Your choice of doctor
Doctors do not need to be a specialist in military or veteran health to complete DVA compensation paperwork. In most cases, your regular treating doctor is best placed to do this.
But sometimes there are good reasons why a doctor other than your regular treating doctor might complete your compensation paperwork. For example, you may have recently discharged from the Defence Force and not yet found a regular GP in the community or recently moved and still be getting settled with a new doctor. In some cases your usual doctor may not wish to complete compensation paperwork and suggest that another doctor is better placed to do this.
While DVA prefers information from your treating doctor we recognise this is not always possible and in most cases you can choose the doctor who completes your compensation assessment.
Veteran FAQs
DVA prefers reports from a treating doctor because they usually have the clearest picture of your health, treatment and progress over time. A doctor who already knows you can often provide the information needed more easily, using their existing records and knowledge of your care. This can mean fewer extra appointments, fewer repeat tests and less stress for you. It also helps link the compensation process with the treatment and support you may need now and in the future.
For DVA, a treating doctor is a doctor or practice that has already been involved in your care before you lodge your claim and has an ongoing clinical relationship with you. In practical terms, this means DVA is looking for a doctor who knows your health history, treatment and progress over time, rather than a doctor you are seeing for the first time just for paperwork.
Here are the exact definitions that DVA is using for the treating doctor:
- For GPs: 2 or more face-to-face appointments with the practice within the past 24 months, or one face-to-face visit for practices in remote locations (MM6 and 7).
- For non-GP specialists: a medical practitioner who has provided or is currently providing clinical treatment of the veteran’s claimed condition. This may be demonstrated by 2 or more appointments within the past 24 months.
DVA is basing these definitions on the MyMedicare definition used more broadly in Australia. We are using the MyMedicare definition because it is a familiar way of describing a regular treating doctor relationship and continuity of care. But you do not need to be registered with MyMedicare for DVA to regard a doctor as your treating doctor.
We recognise that not all veterans have a regular treating doctor, and not all doctors want to complete DVA reports. This can happen if you have recently discharged from the Defence Force, recently moved, are still looking for a regular GP, or your usual doctor is not available or does not complete DVA paperwork. If that applies to you, another doctor may still complete your DVA paperwork.
For DVA purposes, Garrison Health is treated as a medical practice. This means it can count as your treating doctor if you have been seen there 2 or more times in the past 24 months, which would usually be the case for serving members. If you are a serving member, you can still choose another provider to complete your assessment.
Serving members should be aware that the MRCA legislation requires that all Liability and Permanent Impairment determinations are provided to the Chief of the Defence Force regardless of who completes the assessment.
In most cases, yes. Veterans can generally choose the medical practitioner who completes their liability or permanent impairment assessment. While DVA much prefers to receive reports from a treating doctor, we recognise there are times when this may not be available.
There are some situations where DVA may nominate a different doctor than the one you have requested. For example, this may happen if there are concerns about the quality of reports a doctor has provided in the past, or there are other integrity concerns to do with that provider.
If this happens, you may be asked whether there is an alternative doctor you wish to see, or DVA may arrange an Independent Medical Assessment. DVA may also arrange an Independent Medical Assessment if your claim involves complex conditions and there is not yet enough medical information or a clear diagnosis to support it. This is to make sure only the minimum necessary assessments are carried out to help progress your claim, at no cost to you.