What can I claim secondary to alcohol use disorder?
17 conditions in the Repatriation Medical Authority's Statements of Principles list alcohol use disorder as a factor. If DVA has accepted your alcohol use disorder, each of these has a documented pathway to a further claim.
At a glance
- Accepted conditionAlcohol use disorder
- Conditions it may open17
- SourceRMA SoPs
- Chart Review$600 + GST
How a secondary claim works
Some Statement of Principles factors are not about service at all — they name another condition. Where DVA has already accepted your alcohol use disorder, and another condition's SoP lists alcohol use disorder as a factor, that part of the next claim is already established on your file. How a secondary claim works, in full →
Conditions that list alcohol use disorder as a factor
Quoted from the instrument. A pathway existing is not the same as a claim succeeding — each factor carries thresholds your record has to satisfy.
Anosmia
RH No. 19 of 2021 · BoP No. 20 of 2021
Balance of Probabilities — factor (9): “having alcohol-induced major neurocognitive disorder, amnestic- confabulatory type, persistent or alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of anosmia” [clinical onset]
This condition has a Balance of Probabilities instrument only, so the same test applies whatever your service type.
Anxiety disorder
RH No. 100 of 2023 · BoP No. 101 of 2023
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (26): “having an alcohol use disorder or a substance use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder” [clinical onset] — factor (56): “having an alcohol use disorder or a substance use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of anxiety disorder” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (21): “having an alcohol use disorder or a substance use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder” [clinical onset] — factor (45): “having an alcohol use disorder or a substance use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of anxiety disorder” [worsening]
Depressive disorder
RH No. 11 of 2024 · BoP No. 12 of 2024
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (27): “having an alcohol use disorder or a substance use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of substance/medication-induced depressive disorder” [clinical onset] — factor (57): “having an alcohol use disorder or a substance use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of depressive disorder” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (21): “having an alcohol use disorder or a substance use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of substance/medication-induced depressive disorder” [clinical onset] — factor (42): “having an alcohol use disorder or a substance use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of depressive disorder” [worsening]
Duodenal ulcer and duodenal erosion
RH No. 49 of 2024 · BoP No. 50 of 2024
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (22): “having alcohol use disorder or drinking at least 4 standard drinks per day for at least 6 months at the time of bleeding of a duodenal ulcer”
Balance of Probabilities — factor (17): “having alcohol use disorder or drinking at least 4 standard drinks per day for at least 6 months at the time of bleeding of a duodenal ulcer”
Note: The bleeding of a duodenal ulcer is considered to be a clinical worsening.
Dupuytren disease
RH No. 9 of 2019 · BoP No. 10 of 2019
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (3): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of Dupuytren disease” [clinical onset] — factor (16): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of Dupuytren disease” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (3): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of Dupuytren disease” [clinical onset] — factor (14): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of Dupuytren disease” [worsening]
Epilepsy
RH No. 84 of 2022 · BoP No. 85 of 2022
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (40): “having moderate to severe alcohol use disorder, including alcohol dependence, at the time of the clinical worsening of epilepsy” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (37): “having moderate to severe alcohol use disorder, including alcohol dependence, at the time of the clinical worsening of epilepsy” [worsening]
Note: moderate to severe alcohol use disorder is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Gastric ulcer and gastric erosion
RH No. 51 of 2024 · BoP No. 52 of 2024
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (24): “having alcohol use disorder or drinking at least 4 standard drinks per day for at least 6 months at the time of bleeding of a gastric ulcer”
Balance of Probabilities — factor (19): “having alcohol use disorder or drinking at least 4 standard drinks per day for at least 6 months at the time of bleeding of a gastric ulcer”
Note: The bleeding of a gastric ulcer is considered to be a clinical worsening.
Hypogonadism
RH No. 73 of 2021 · BoP No. 74 of 2021
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (32): “having alcohol use disorder before the clinical onset of hypogonadism” [clinical onset] — factor (70): “having alcohol use disorder before the clinical worsening of hypogonadism” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (29): “for males only, having alcohol use disorder before the clinical onset of hypogonadism” [clinical onset] — factor (59): “for males only, having alcohol use disorder before the clinical worsening of hypogonadism” [worsening]
Melioidosis
RH No. 55 of 2023 · BoP No. 56 of 2023
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (6): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of melioidosis” [clinical onset]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (6): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of melioidosis” [clinical onset]
Myocarditis
RH No. 17 of 2024 · BoP No. 18 of 2024
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (25): “having an alcohol use disorder at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening” [onset and worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (24): “having an alcohol use disorder at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening” [onset and worsening]
Peripheral neuropathy
RH No. 72 of 2023 · BoP No. 73 of 2023
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (13): “having severe alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of peripheral neuropathy” [clinical onset] — factor (43): “having severe alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of peripheral neuropathy” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (13): “having severe alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of peripheral neuropathy” [clinical onset] — factor (43): “having severe alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of peripheral neuropathy” [worsening]
Note: severe alcohol use disorder is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Plantar fibromatosis
RH No. 21 of 2023 · BoP No. 22 of 2023
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (1): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis” [clinical onset] — factor (8): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (1): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis” [clinical onset] — factor (4): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of plantar fibromatosis” [worsening]
Porphyria cutanea tarda
RH No. 69 of 2021 · BoP No. 70 of 2021
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (3): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of porphyria cutanea tarda” [clinical onset] — factor (15): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of porphyria cutanea tarda” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (3): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of porphyria cutanea tarda” [clinical onset] — factor (13): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of porphyria cutanea tarda” [worsening]
Schizophrenia
RH No. 83 of 2016 · BoP No. 84 of 2016
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (8): “having alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder involving a drug or a drug from a class of drugs from Specified List 1 of drugs, within the five years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia” [clinical onset]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (7): “having alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder involving a drug or a drug from a class of drugs from Specified List 1 of drugs, within the five years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia” [clinical onset]
Note: Specified List 1 of drugs is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Seizure
RH No. 37 of 2022 · BoP No. 38 of 2022
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (16): “having alcohol intoxication, alcohol withdrawal or moderate to severe alcohol use disorder, at the time of the clinical onset of seizure” [clinical onset]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (16): “having alcohol intoxication, alcohol withdrawal or moderate to severe alcohol use disorder, at the time of the clinical onset of seizure” [clinical onset]
Note: alcohol intoxication, alcohol withdrawal and moderate to severe alcohol use disorder are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Subcutaneous lipoma
RH No. 82 of 2024 · BoP No. 83 of 2024
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (1): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of benign symmetrical lipomatosis” [clinical onset]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (1): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of benign symmetrical lipomatosis” [clinical onset]
Note: Benign symmetrical lipomatosis is also known as multiple symmetrical lipomatosis or Madelung disease, which usually manifests as multiple symmetrical fat deposits in the head, neck and shoulder area.
Tuberculosis
RH No. 47 of 2024 · BoP No. 48 of 2024
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (16): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of tuberculosis” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (14): “having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of tuberculosis” [worsening]
Other accepted conditions that also open anosmia
If any of these is also on your file, it reaches some of the same conditions alcohol use disorder does.
What DVA means by alcohol use disorder
A claim is tested against the definition first. If the diagnosis on your file does not meet this wording, the factors below never get reached — so it is worth checking that what your doctor wrote matches what the instrument requires.
Alcohol use disorder, for the purposes of the Statement of Principles, for the purposes of this Statement of Principles, alcohol use disorder means a disorder of mental health meeting the following diagnostic criteria (derived from DSM-5): A problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by at least four of the following, occurring within a 12-month period: A. Alcohol is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended. B. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol use. C. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use alcohol, or recover from its effects. D. Craving, or a strong desire or urge to use alcohol. E. Recurrent alcohol use resulting in a failure to fulfil major role obligations at work, school, or home. F. Continued alcohol use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of alcohol. G. Important social, occupational or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use. H. Recurrent alcohol use in situations in which it is physically hazardous. I. Alcohol use is continued despite knowledge of having a per
Aggravation-only factors. In this instrument, subsections 9(9) to 9(17) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, alcohol use disorder where it was already present before or during service. If service caused alcohol use disorder outright, those factors are not available to you.
RH No. 48 of 2017 · BoP No. 49 of 2017 · 13 factors
Reviewed by Dr Thomas Perkins
Founding doctor, Veterans Health Centre · former RAAF aviation medical officer · 13 years working exclusively with ADF members and veterans. Full profile →
Alcohol use disorder accepted?
Contact us for more information.