Article at a glance
- Recognised and supported: depression is a well-established condition for veterans.
- Treatment without acceptance: mental health care can be funded before a claim is decided.
- Often secondary: it can flow from chronic pain or another accepted condition.
- A diagnosis is the starting point: from a GP, psychologist or psychiatrist.
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions veterans live with, and it is recognised and supported by DVA. It can stand on its own, or develop alongside PTSD, anxiety or the chronic pain of a physical injury. Whatever the path, help is available.
This guide explains how DVA approaches a depression claim, the treatment you can access, and where to find support. For the wider picture, see our DVA medical conditions hub.
Depression and military service
Depression is more than feeling down. It can bring persistent low mood, loss of interest, fatigue, disturbed sleep and difficulty functioning day to day. For veterans, it often connects to the cumulative stress of service, traumatic experiences, the loss of military identity and structure after discharge, or the grind of living with a chronic physical injury. It commonly occurs alongside PTSD and anxiety, which is why these conditions are best understood together.
The secondary pathway worth knowing
Many veterans do not realise depression can be claimed as a secondary condition. Living with constant pain from an accepted back, knee or shoulder condition takes a real toll on mental health, and where depression develops as a consequence of an accepted physical condition, it can be claimed as secondary to it. If you already have a musculoskeletal condition accepted, it is worth reviewing whether depression should be part of the picture.
Treatment you can access now
Through DVA’s Non-Liability Health Care, anyone with at least one day of ADF service can have treatment for any mental health condition, including depression, funded by DVA without first proving it is service-related. You do not need to wait for a claim to be decided to start getting help.
Can you claim depression through DVA?
Yes. A depressive disorder can be claimed for compensation where it connects to your service. It is assessed against the relevant Statement of Principles, and a claim can be accepted where service caused it, materially aggravated it, or where it arises secondary to another accepted condition. The applicable legislation, MRCA, DRCA or the VEA, depends on when and where you served.
The evidence that helps
- A diagnosis from a GP, psychologist or psychiatrist
- Your treatment history, including counselling or medication
- The connection to your service, or to an accepted condition
- A picture of how symptoms affect your daily life and work
A clear diagnosis is the foundation. Our guide on getting the right DVA diagnosis covers how to approach it, and our guide to anxiety claims is worth reading where the two go together.
How depression is assessed for compensation
Once accepted, the impact is assessed for permanent impairment using the recognised psychiatric rating approach, which considers how the condition affects areas such as self-care, relationships, work and social function. Because depression so often coexists with other mental health conditions, they are usually assessed together rather than separately, and how much it contributes depends on that individual assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to make a claim for depression?
Our expert team can help you connect depression to your service, or to an accepted condition, and prepare your claim while you access support now.
Related from KSC Law
- DVA medical conditions hub
- DVA anxiety claims
- ADF PTSD compensation
- Mental health for Australian veterans
External resources
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Where depression develops as a consequence of an accepted physical condition, such as chronic pain from a back or knee injury, it can often be claimed as a secondary condition.
Yes. Through Non-Liability Health Care, treatment for any mental health condition can be funded with as little as one day of ADF service, regardless of whether the condition is yet accepted as service-related.
Open Arms provides free, confidential counselling for veterans and families, 24 hours a day, on 1800 011 046. If you need to talk to someone urgently, Lifeline is available any time on 13 11 14. Your GP can also help you start a mental health care plan.