What can I claim secondary to diabetes mellitus?
73 conditions in the Repatriation Medical Authority's Statements of Principles list diabetes mellitus as a factor. If DVA has accepted your diabetes mellitus, each of these has a documented pathway to a further claim.
At a glance
- Accepted conditionDiabetes mellitus
- Conditions it may open73
- SourceRMA SoPs
- Chart Review$600 + GST
How a secondary claim works
Every DVA claim is decided against a Statement of Principles — the legislative instrument listing the only factors capable of connecting a condition to service. Some of those factors are not about service at all: they name another condition. Where DVA has already accepted your diabetes mellitus, and another condition's SoP lists diabetes mellitus as a factor, the hardest part of the next claim is already done — the condition is established, dated and on your file. You still need a diagnosis of the new condition, and the factor still has to be met on your evidence, including any threshold of time or severity written into it. But the pathway exists in the legislation rather than in an argument.
Conditions that list diabetes mellitus 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.
Achilles tendinopathy
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening”
Acquired cataract
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of acquired cataract”
Acute pancreatitis
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of acute pancreatitis”
Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder”
Alzheimer disease
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least the ten years before the clinical onset of Alzheimer disease”
Anosmia
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of anosmia”
Aortic stenosis
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of aortic stenosis”
Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least the 5 years before the clinical onset of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter”
Blepharitis
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of blepharitis”
Carotid artery disease
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of carotid artery disease”
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of carpal tunnel syndrome”
Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of clinical onset”
Cholelithiasis
Listed factor: “having type 2 diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of cholelithiasis”
Colorectal adenoma
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least 5 years before the clinical onset of colorectal adenoma”
Conjunctivitis
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of conjunctivitis”
Deep vein thrombosis
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of deep vein thrombosis”
Dental pulp and periapical disease
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of dental pulp and periapical disease”
Diverticular disease of the colon
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening of diverticular bleeding”
Duodenal ulcer and duodenal erosion
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening”
Dupuytren disease
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of Dupuytren disease”
Eating disorder
Listed factor: “having type 1 diabetes mellitus for at least the 3 months before clinical onset or clinical worsening of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder”
Epilepsy
Listed factor: “having type 1 diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of epilepsy”
Fracture
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the fracture non-union”
Gallstone disease (cholelithiasis)
Listed factor: “having type 2 diabetes mellitus at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening”
Gastric ulcer and gastric erosion
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening”
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of gastro- oesophageal reflux disease”
Gingivitis
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of gingivitis; Compilation No. 1 Compilation date: 21/11/2022 Authorised Version F2022C01121 registered 21/11/2022”
Heart block
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of heart block”
Hypertension
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least the 5 years before the clinical onset of hypertension”
Hypogonadism
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of hypogonadism”
Ingrown nail
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening”
Ischaemic heart disease
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before clinical onset or clinical worsening”
Kaposi sarcoma
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least six months before the clinical onset of Kaposi sarcoma”
Macular degeneration
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of macular degeneration”
Malignant neoplasm of the bile duct
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least 5 years before clinical onset”
Malignant neoplasm of the bladder
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least five years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the bladder”
Malignant neoplasm of the colon and rectum
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the colon or rectum”
Malignant neoplasm of the endometrium
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least 5 years before clinical onset”
Malignant neoplasm of the kidney
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least five years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the kidney”
Malignant neoplasm of the liver
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least five years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the liver”
Malignant neoplasm of the pancreas
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the pancreas”
Malignant neoplasm of the prostate
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least 5 years before the clinical worsening of malignant neoplasm of the prostate”
Malignant neoplasm of the renal pelvis and ureter
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least five years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the renal pelvis or ureter”
Malignant neoplasm of the small intestine
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the small intestine”
Malignant neoplasm of the stomach
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the stomach”
Malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least 5 years before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland”
Malignant neoplasm of unknown primary site
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of unknown primary site”
Multiple sclerosis
Listed factor: “having type 1 diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of multiple sclerosis”
Non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of non-aneurysmal aortic atherosclerotic disease”
Osteomyelitis
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset or clinical worsening of osteomyelitis”
Osteoporosis
Listed factor: “having one of the following endocrine abnormalities for a continuous period of at least 1 year within the 10 years before clinical onset or clinical worsening; (a) Cushing syndrome; (b) Graves disease; (c) hyperprolactinaemia; (d) hyperthyroidism or thyroto…”
Otitis externa
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of otitis externa”
Pathological fracture
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the fracture non-union”
Periodontitis
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of periodontitis”
Peripheral artery disease
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of peripheral artery disease”
Plantar fibromatosis
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of plantar fibromatosis”
Pulmonary thromboembolism
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of pulmonary thromboembolism”
Renal artery atherosclerotic disease
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of renal artery atherosclerotic disease”
Restless legs syndrome
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of restless legs syndrome”
Retinal vascular occlusion
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of retinal vascular occlusion”
Rotator cuff syndrome
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of rotator cuff syndrome”
Seizure
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of seizure”
Sensorineural hearing loss
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of sensorineural hearing loss”
Shingles and postherpetic neuralgia
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of shingles or postherpetic neuralgia”
Steatohepatitis
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of steatohepatitis”
Subdural haematoma
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of subdural haematoma”
Sudden unexplained death
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the sudden unexplained death”
Tinea
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of clinical worsening”
Trigeminal neuralgia or trigeminal neuropathy
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of clinical onset or clinical worsening of trigeminal neuropathy”
Trigger finger
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus before the clinical onset of trigger finger”
Tuberculosis
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical worsening of tuberculosis”
Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow”
Vascular neurocognitive disorder
Listed factor: “having diabetes mellitus for at least the 5 years before the clinical onset of vascular neurocognitive disorder”
What else opens further claims
- Conditions secondary to hypertension
- Conditions secondary to moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
- Conditions secondary to alcohol use disorder
- Conditions secondary to cirrhosis of the liver
- Conditions secondary to hepatitis c
- Conditions secondary to depressive disorder
- Conditions secondary to sarcoidosis
- Conditions secondary to tuberculosis
- Check every condition you have accepted →
Frequently asked questions
Does this mean I will be accepted for these conditions?
No. It means the legislation contains a pathway. The factor still has to be met on your evidence, and the new condition still has to be diagnosed by a qualified practitioner.
Do I need a new diagnosis for each one?
Yes. DVA cannot accept liability for a condition that has not been diagnosed. If something here matches symptoms you have been living with, that is the conversation to have with a doctor.
Is this the same as an aggravation claim?
No. Aggravation is where service worsened a condition you already had. A sequela is a separate condition arising from one already accepted, claimed in its own right with its own SoP.
Where does this information come from?
The Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles, as held in our SoP Library. We index the factor text of all 357 instruments. SoPs are amended regularly — confirm the current instrument before relying on it.
What should I do next?
Have your record read against these pathways. A chart review establishes which are actually provable, with the page reference behind each one.
Dr Thomas Perkins
The expert in veterans’ medicolegal medicine — Expert DVA Doctor.
Dr Thomas Perkins is the founding doctor at the Veterans Health Centre in Ipswich, Queensland, and the leading expert in veterans’ medicolegal work in Australia. He has spent over 13 years working exclusively with current and former Australian Defence Force members — treating conditions, writing reports, and navigating the DVA system alongside them.
With 100,000+ DVA claims submitted and over 2,000 Permanent Impairment Assessments completed, Dr Perkins brings a depth of experience that simply cannot be replicated from a textbook. He understands the Statements of Principles, the GARP tables, the imaging that proves what a physical examination alone cannot — and the difference that a properly written report makes at every level, from initial liability through to the VRB.
Every chart review, every diagnostic assessment, and every impairment rating is personally overseen by Dr Perkins. If you’re looking for a doctor who knows veterans medicine inside and out, you’ve found the right clinic.
Contact us0429 146 039 reception@vhc.org.au
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