The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) provides health care, compensation, and support to eligible Australian veterans, their families, and dependants. But the system is complicated — and it's not designed to make claiming easy. This guide explains the key entitlement types in plain English, so you know what you may be owed before you pick up the phone or fill out a form.
Important: This guide is for general information only. Entitlements are assessed by DVA on an individual basis and depend on your service history, card type, and specific circumstances. For personalised advice, speak with an At Ease veteran advocate — at no cost.
What's Covered
The Gold Card (Repatriation Health Card — For All Conditions) is the most comprehensive DVA health entitlement card. It covers all medical conditions, whether related to service or not, for eligible veterans.
Gold Cards are generally available to: veterans who meet DVA's eligibility criteria for Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) status; certain war widows and widowers; Australian prisoners of war; and some veterans who have reached pension age with sufficient qualifying service. Eligibility is assessed by DVA on an individual basis.
With a Gold Card, DVA will generally fund:
Inpatient and outpatient hospital treatment at both public and private hospitals for all conditions.
Visits to GPs and a wide range of specialists for any medical condition — not just service-related.
Medicines listed on the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS), with a standard co-payment applying.
Psychology, psychiatry, and mental health services. Open Arms veteran counselling services are also available.
Dental, optical, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, and more — refer to DVA's fee schedules for full detail.
DVA may fund transport to medical appointments in some circumstances. Eligibility depends on location and distance.
Many Gold Card holders don't realise the full scope of what they're entitled to — particularly around natural therapies and specialist pathways. A free conversation with our team can help identify what you might be missing.
What's Covered
The White Card (Repatriation Health Card — For Specific Conditions) covers DVA-funded treatment for specific service-related conditions accepted by DVA as connected to your military service.
White Cards are generally available to veterans who have completed eligible service in the ADF, and whose health conditions have been accepted by DVA as related to that service. Eligibility, and which conditions are covered, is determined by DVA on an individual basis.
With a White Card, DVA will generally fund treatment for the specific conditions listed on your card. This can include GP visits, hospital treatment, pharmaceuticals, specialist care, and allied health services — but only for your accepted conditions.
Importantly, White Card holders may be able to add additional accepted conditions to their card over time as new claims are lodged and accepted. This is where good DVA advocacy makes a significant difference.
A White Card is not a lesser entitlement — it's a starting point. Many veterans are entitled to far more than they realise through their White Card, and some may also be eligible to apply for conditions they haven't yet claimed. Don't assume you know the full scope of what you're owed.
DVA Card Yet?
Many veterans who are entitled to DVA support have never applied for a card. This is extremely common — especially among younger veterans who separated from the ADF without being told what they were owed, or who didn't think they had a significant enough injury to claim.
The most important thing to know: eligible service is the starting point, not the extent of your injury.
DVA covers veterans who have completed eligible service with the ADF — including Permanent Force, Reserves in certain circumstances, and some peacetime service. The DVA website has a service eligibility checker.
Applications can be lodged online through MyService on the DVA website. You'll need your discharge documents and a description of the condition(s) you're claiming as service-related.
Once you have a card, you lodge a claim for your accepted conditions. This is where most veterans need support — the claims process is where the system is most likely to reject you if the paperwork isn't right.
Experienced DVA advocates (including ex-RSL advocates) know how to structure claims to maximise acceptance rates. At Ease veterans in eligible programs receive access to this support at no cost.
We help veterans without a DVA card understand their service eligibility and walk through the application process. It's often faster than people expect. Book a free chat with our team.
Under DVA
DVA considers funding certain natural therapies for eligible veterans on a case-by-case basis. These are treatments that fall outside conventional medicine but may be clinically appropriate for individual veterans following proper assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Natural therapy funding through DVA is not automatic or guaranteed. It requires independent clinical assessment and is determined by DVA on an individual basis. Suitability for any natural therapy treatment rests entirely with the treating clinician and DVA — not with At Ease.
For veterans exploring natural therapy pathways through DVA, the process typically involves:
Speak with a veteran advocate (like At Ease) to understand whether a natural therapy pathway may be relevant to your circumstances, and what the process involves.
Under current DVA funding arrangements, an in-person consultation with a qualified specialist is typically required before treatment can be considered for funding. DVA may fund travel to attend the appointment.
Your clinical provider submits a funding application to DVA on your behalf. DVA assesses the application based on your individual circumstances and clinical need. This is assessed case-by-case.
If approved, ongoing care may include follow-up consultations and, where applicable, treatment delivered to your home. Repeat approvals may be required.
For more information on natural therapies under DVA, refer to:
a DVA Claim
DVA claims can be lodged through the MyService portal on the DVA website, or through a recognised advocate. The process varies depending on what you're claiming — but the general steps apply across most claim types.
Your discharge documents, service history, and any relevant medical records from your time in the ADF. The ADF can provide service records if you no longer have them.
Be specific. Claims are accepted or rejected on the basis of whether DVA accepts a connection between your condition and your service. Vague descriptions reduce acceptance rates.
For some conditions, DVA may require a report from a treating doctor or specialist confirming the diagnosis and its likely connection to service. At Ease can assist with referrals for medico-legal reports.
Claims can be lodged at dva.gov.au. Alternatively, At Ease can connect you with an ex-RSL advocate who will lodge and manage the claim on your behalf.
DVA claims processing times vary. Keep a record of your claim reference number and follow up if you haven't received a decision within the expected timeframe. Advocates can assist with this.
Was Rejected
A rejected DVA claim is not the end of the road. Many veterans receive initial rejections and go on to have their claims accepted through the review process. The key is knowing what your options are.
DVA must provide a written explanation of why your claim was rejected. This is your starting point for understanding what the decision was based on — and whether it can be challenged.
You can request DVA internally review the decision. New evidence — such as an updated medical report — can be submitted at this stage and may change the outcome.
If the internal review is unsuccessful, you can apply to the Veterans' Review Board (VRB) — an independent tribunal that reviews DVA decisions. This is a formal process and advocacy support is strongly recommended.
If the VRB decision goes against you, further appeal is available through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). Legal representation is common at this stage.
The rejection rate for first-time DVA claims is higher than it should be — often because the paperwork wasn't structured correctly, not because the veteran doesn't genuinely qualify. Experienced advocates know how to re-present claims successfully.
Veterans Make
After working with veterans across the DVA system, these are the patterns we see most often — and that cost veterans the support they're entitled to.
There's no upside to waiting. Your entitlements don't grow with time — but conditions can worsen, evidence becomes harder to gather, and the process takes longer than people expect. Claim early.
The scope of White Card entitlements is regularly underestimated. Veterans are often entitled to claim additional conditions — and the card can be a pathway to Gold Card status in the right circumstances.
Poorly documented claims are rejected at much higher rates. A letter from a GP alone is often not enough. Medico-legal reports that speak directly to service connection are frequently what makes the difference.
Many successful DVA outcomes came after an initial rejection. The review process exists for a reason. If you've been rejected, speak to an advocate before you write it off.
The DVA system was not designed to be navigated alone. Veterans who work with experienced advocates consistently achieve better outcomes than those who manage the process by themselves. And At Ease doesn't charge veterans for this support.
Your Entitlements
At Ease Veteran Solutions is a veteran-led referral and advocacy service. We help veterans understand what they're entitled to and connect them with the right clinical and advocacy support. We don't charge veterans for any of our services — ever.
For veterans on eligible DVA-funded treatment pathways through our service, we also offer:
- Free ex-RSL advocate access — experienced DVA claims advocates assigned to eligible veterans
- Pharmacy co-payment covered — we absorb the standard co-payment on eligible treatments
- Travel to clinic funded — transport assistance where needed
- Express delivery — approved treatments shipped express post to your door
Other free veteran advocacy resources include: