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AUSTRALIAN CENTRE
FOR TRAUMA IN VETERANS
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PROF. HARRY MCCONNELL
Consultant Neuropsychiatrist
INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS (DVA) CLAIMS
DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENTS AND LIABILITY
ASSESSMENTS (MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND
BRAIN INJURIES)
Prof. McConnell is able to provide initial diagnostic and liability assessments relating to mental health conditions and brain injuries. All initial DVA claims require a diagnostic assessment/ Injury or Disease Details Sheet (IDDS) completed by a Doctor to accompany the relevant claim forms submitted to DVA.
The next step in the process is determination of liability. Prof. McConnell will confirm a diagnosis, the cause, date of onset and any aggravation to the condition over time.
IMPAIRMENT ASSESSMENTS (MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS AND BRAIN INJURIES)
An Impairment Assessment aims to determine the impact of any health condition(s) that have been accepted by DVA as service caused.
The forms will ask for information such as:
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The severity of the disease
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Previous and current treatment
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The veteran’s functional status
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A small number of examination findings, and
common investigation results.
Impairment Guides- GARP (for VEA and MRCA) and PIG (Comcare Part 2, for DRCA) are used by DVA to convert the information provided by ACTIV in the Impairment Assessment into an overall impairment rating, which is used to calculate the amount of compensation.
INCAPACITY ASSESSMENTS (MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND BRAIN INJURIES)
Incapacity payments are compensation for economic loss due to the inability (or reduced ability) to work. Providing ACTIV with the previous Permanent Impairment report or IDDS will assist with completion of these forms.
ACTIV may also be asked to describe the veteran’s level of:
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Incapacity: i.e the ability (or reduced) ability to work, what work they can do, and the reason for the limitation, and
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Impairment: i.e the impact the veteran’s service-related medical conditions has on the veterans level of function.
DVA ACT INFORMATION
DRCA- Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA)
SRCA- Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988
Some members of the ADF have ‘dual eligibility’ under SRCA and the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA)
MRCA- Claims if you were injured after 30 June 2004 | Department of Veterans' Affairs (dva.gov.au)
The following DVA website is a quick reference to the Different acts of compensation and the eligibility to each; https://www.dva.gov.au/financial-support/compensation-claims/claims-f-111-workers/laws-cover-claims-f-111-workers/Which-Act-am-I-covered-by
HOW TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH PROF. MCCONNELL FOR AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT
To schedule a telehealth (zoom) appointment with Prof. McConnell please contact the ACTIV team below. ​
0492 049 684
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WHAT CAN THE VETERAN DO TO ASSIST ACTIV
COMPLETE TIMELY ASSESSMENTS?
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If possible prior to the appointment, please have all military service history, tours/deployments, and dates of these events;
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Injury disease fact sheet (DDS) (if applicable)
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Any previous assessments completed by other practitioners if at the Review Tribunal level.
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Have completed ACTIV questionnaires and intake form sent to you prior to the appointment.