What can I claim secondary to substance use disorder?
5 conditions in the Repatriation Medical Authority's Statements of Principles list substance use disorder as a factor. If DVA has accepted your substance use disorder, each of these has a documented pathway to a further claim.
At a glance
- Accepted conditionSubstance use disorder
- Conditions it may open5
- 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 substance use disorder, and another condition's SoP lists substance 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 substance 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.
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]
Chronic solvent-induced neurocognitive disorder
RH No. 109 of 2021 · BoP No. 110 of 2021
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (1): “having a severe substance use disorder involving inhalation of a solvent from the Specified List 1 of solvents within the 5 years before the clinical onset of chronic solvent-induced neurocognitive disorder” [clinical onset]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (1): “having a severe substance use disorder involving inhalation of a solvent from the Specified List 1 of solvents within the 5 years before the clinical onset of chronic solvent-induced neurocognitive disorder” [clinical onset]
Note: severe substance use disorder and Specified List 1 of solvents are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
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]
Peripheral neuropathy
RH No. 72 of 2023 · BoP No. 73 of 2023
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (17): “having a severe substance use disorder involving inhalation of a substance from the specified list of substances at the time of the clinical onset of peripheral neuropathy” [clinical onset] — factor (47): “having a severe substance use disorder involving inhalation of a substance from the specified list of substances at the time of the clinical worsening of peripheral neuropathy” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (17): “having a severe substance use disorder involving inhalation of a substance from the specified list of substances at the time of the clinical onset of peripheral neuropathy” [clinical onset] — factor (47): “having a severe substance use disorder involving inhalation of a substance from the specified list of substances at the time of the clinical worsening of peripheral neuropathy” [worsening]
Note: severe substance use disorder and specified list of substances are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Schizophrenia
RH No. 83 of 2016 · BoP No. 84 of 2016
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (6): “having substance use disorder, involving cannabis, within the 20 years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia” [clinical onset] — 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 (5): “having substance use disorder, involving cannabis, within the 20 years before the clinical onset of schizophrenia” [clinical onset] — 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.
Other accepted conditions that also open anxiety disorder
If any of these is also on your file, it reaches some of the same conditions substance use disorder does.
What DVA means by substance 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.
Substance use disorder, for the purposes of the Statement of Principles, for the purposes of this Statement of Principles, substance use disorder means a disorder of mental health that meets the following diagnostic criteria (derived from DSM-5): A problematic pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by at least four of the following criteria, occurring within a 12-month period: A. Substances are 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 substance use. C. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance, use the substance, or recover from its effects. D. Craving, or a strong desire or urge to use substances. E. Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfil major role obligations at work, school, or home. F. Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of substances. G. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use. H. Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous. I. Continued
Aggravation-only factors. In this instrument, subsections 9(10) to 9(18) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, substance use disorder where it was already present before or during service. If service caused substance use disorder outright, those factors are not available to you.
RH No. 59 of 2017 · BoP No. 60 of 2017 · 14 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 →
Substance use disorder accepted?
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