GARP Chapter Map: Which Chapter Covers Your Condition

The GARP has 26 chapters. You will probably only ever need two or three of them.

This page tells you which ones. Find your condition, go to that chapter.

Chapters 1 to 12: find your body part

These are the main chapters. Each one covers a body system.

Chapter 1 — Heart and lungs. Heart disease, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis. Read it
Chapter 2 — Blood pressure and blood vessels. High blood pressure, aneurysms, varicose veins. Read it
Chapter 3 — Spine, arms and legs. The biggest chapter for most veterans. Backs, necks, knees, shoulders, ankles. Read it
Chapter 4 — Mental health. PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcohol use. Read it
Chapter 5 — Brain and nerves. Head injury, stroke, epilepsy, nerve damage, migraine. Read it
Chapter 6 — Stomach and bowel. Reflux, ulcers, IBS, liver, gall bladder, hernias. Read it
Chapter 7 — Ears, nose and throat. Hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus, voice. Read it
Chapter 8 — Eyes. Vision, visual fields, double vision, dry eye. Read it
Chapter 9 — Kidneys and bladder. Kidney failure, incontinence, urinary infections. Read it
Chapter 10 — Sexual function, fertility and breasts. Read it
Chapter 11 — Skin. Eczema, psoriasis, sun damage, scarring. Read it
Chapter 12 — Hormones and blood. Diabetes, thyroid, anaemia. Read it

Chapters 13 to 17: the ones that cut across everything

These do not belong to a body part. They handle a type of problem.

Chapter 13 — Conditions that cause almost nothing. A tidy way to record a condition worth zero. Read it
Chapter 14 — Cancer. Rated on symptoms and on life expectancy. Read it
Chapter 15 — Conditions that come and go. Migraine, epilepsy, asthma attacks, vertigo. Very important and often missed. Read it
Chapter 16 — Daily living. Used when you need help washing, dressing or getting around. Read it
Chapter 17 — Disfigurement. Scarring, limps, stammers, anything that makes you avoid people. Read it

Chapters 18 to 21: the maths

Nobody claims under these. They shape your final number.

Chapter 18 — Joining the numbers. Why 20 and 20 makes 36. Read it
Chapter 19 — When something not accepted is part of the problem. This one takes points off you. Worth understanding. Read it
Chapter 20 — Splitting one score between two conditions. This one can give points back. Read it
Chapter 21 — Pairs. One eye, one kidney, one ear. Read it

Chapter 22: your lifestyle rating

A separate score out of 7. It covers relationships, getting around, hobbies and work. It changes your payment as much as your points do, and you are allowed to fill it in yourself. Read it

Chapters 23 to 26: the money

Chapter 23 — Points and lifestyle to dollars. The actual payment tables. Read it
Chapter 24 — Weekly money into a lump sum. How much you are allowed to convert. Read it
Chapter 25 — If you already had a VEA or DRCA condition. Read it
Chapter 26 — Working out your starting point. The baseline rating that gets deducted. Read it

Before your assessment

The chapters above explain the rules. These explain what to actually do.

What happens at a permanent impairment assessment — what the day looks like
How to prepare, and what to bring — the checklist
A full worked example — one veteran, three conditions, all the way to dollars
Every GARP word explained — the glossary
10 mistakes that cost veterans points
When to ask for a reassessment

Which chapters will my claim use?

Most veterans we see end up using:

Chapter 3 for backs, knees and shoulders
Chapter 4 for mental health
Chapter 7 for hearing and tinnitus
Chapter 15 if anything comes in attacks
Chapters 18, 19 and 22 every single time

What this means for you

You do not need to read 26 chapters. Read the two or three that match your accepted conditions, and read Chapter 22, because the lifestyle rating is the part you personally control.

Then try the PI points calculator to see roughly where you land.

Next in this series

Pick a chapter above, or start with Chapter 3, which covers most veterans.

Want a hand with yours?

If you have a permanent impairment assessment coming up, we do these every week. Call 0429 146 039 or email reception@vhc.org.au.