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SoP Library › Adjustment disorder

Statement of Principles

Adjustment disorder — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Adjustment disorder. DVA can only accept a claim for Adjustment disorder if at least one of these factors is met and connected to your service. Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) applies to operational service; Balance of Probabilities (BoP) applies to peacetime service.

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Source: Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles as held by the Veterans Health Centre. SoPs are amended and replaced regularly; always confirm the current instrument at rma.gov.au before relying on it.

Adjustment disorder

RH No. 23 of 2016 · BoP No. 24 of 201623 factors

Meaning of adjustment disorder: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, adjustment disorder means a disorder of mental health meeting the following diagnostic criteria (derived from DSM-5): (a) The development of emotional or behavioural symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor (s) occurring within three months of the onset of the stressor (s) . (b) These symptoms or behaviours are clinically significant, as evidenced by one or both of the following: (i) Marked distress that is out of proportion to the severity or intensity of the stressor, taking into account the external context and the cultural factors that might influence symptom severity and presentation; or Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (ii) Significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. (c) The stress-related disturbance does not meet the criteria for another mental disorder and is not merely an exacerbation of a preexisting mental disorder. (d) The symptoms do not represent normal bereavement. (e) Once the stressor or its consequences have terminated, the symptoms do not persist for more than an additional six months.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 23 of 2016

At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting adjustment disorder or death from adjustment disorder with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder; Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986;

    Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: category 1 B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    living or working in a hostile or life-threatening environment for a cumulative period of at least four weeks within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: hostile or life-threatening environment is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  4. (4)
    being exposed to repeated or extreme aversive details of severe traumatic events within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: being exposed to repeated or extreme aversive details of severe traumatic events is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    having a significant other who experiences a category 1A stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: category 1A stressor and significant other are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    experiencing a category 2 stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: category 2 stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    experiencing the death of a significant other within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: significant other is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    having, or being diagnosed with, a medical illness or injury which is life-threatening or which results in serious physical or cognitive disability, within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;
  9. (9)
    having persistent pain of at least three months duration at the time of the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: persistent pain is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    having a severe, chronic medical condition within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: severe, chronic medical condition is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  11. (11)
    having a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth, within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: miscarriage is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  12. (12)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for adjustment disorder. Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(12) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 24 of 2016

11 factors

At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, adjustment disorder or death from adjustment disorder is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder; Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986;

    Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: category 1 B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    being exposed to repeated or extreme aversive details of severe traumatic events within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: being exposed to repeated or extreme aversive details of severe traumatic events is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  4. (4)
    having a significant other who experiences a category 1A stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: category 1A stressor and significant other are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    experiencing a category 2 stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: category 2 stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    experiencing the death of a significant other within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: significant other is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    having, or being diagnosed with, a medical illness or injury which is life-threatening or which results in serious physical or cognitive disability, within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;
  8. (8)
    having persistent pain of at least three months duration at the time of the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: persistent pain is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  9. (9)
    having a severe, chronic medical condition within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: severe, chronic medical condition is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    having a miscarriage, foetal death in-utero or stillbirth, within the three months before the clinical onset of adjustment disorder;

    Note: miscarriage is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  11. (11)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for adjustment disorder. Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(11) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.

A VHC Diagnostic Assessment addresses each of these factors one by one against your service record and clinical history. See how a VHC DVA claim works, see all fees ($600 + GST per stage) or book an appointment.

Accepted — what is it worth?

A Statement of Principles decides one thing only: whether DVA accepts liability for adjustment disorder. It says nothing about how much you are paid. Compensation is worked out separately, from impairment points under the GARP — so a condition can be accepted and still rate few points, or rate more than you expect once it is combined with everything else on your file.

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Presumptive liability · from 1 July 2026

Adjustment disorder may be accepted without proving the link to service

Adjustment disorder is listed in Part 2 of the determination as attributable to defence service, provided the criteria below are met.

  • Qualifying service: Warlike service: for more than 28 days; and excluding the first 28 days of warlike service.
    Onset: during the qualifying service, or within 3 months after the last day of that service.

A diagnosis is still required, and the presumption may not apply where there is clear evidence of a cause other than service. "Onset" means when an injury was sustained, or when all the signs and symptoms of a disease were first present — not the date of diagnosis. Applies to claims made on or after 1 July 2026.

How presumptive liability works →

Part of DVA Claims — Mental health — every Statement of Principles covering mental health.

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Acute stress disorderAlcohol use disorderAnxiety disorderBipolar disorderChronic insomnia disorderDepressive disorderEating disorderGender dysphoriaSee all →
Dr Thomas Perkins, Veterans Health Centre

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 →