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SoP Library › Posttraumatic stress disorder

Statement of Principles

Posttraumatic stress disorder — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Posttraumatic stress disorder. DVA can only accept a claim for Posttraumatic stress 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.

Posttraumatic stress disorder

RH No. 97 of 2022 · BoP No. 98 of 202228 factors

Meaning of posttraumatic stress disorder: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, posttraumatic stress disorder means a disorder of mental health which meets the following criteria (derived from DSM-5-TR): A. Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more) of the following ways: (i) directly experiencing the traumatic event (s) ; (ii) witnessing, in person, the event (s) as it occurred to others; (iii) learning that the traumatic event (s) occurred to a close family member or close friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a family member or friend, the event (s) must have been violent or accidental; or (iv) experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event (s) (for example, first responders collecting human remains; police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse). This criterion does not apply to exposure through electronic media, television, movies, or pictures, unless this exposure is work related; and B. Presence of one (or more) of the following intrusion symptoms associated with the traumatic event (s) , beginning after the traumatic event (s) occurred: (i) recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing m

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 97 of 2022

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 posttraumatic stress disorder or death from posttraumatic stress disorder with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  2. (2)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  3. (3)
    living or working in a hostile or life-threatening environment for a period of at least 4 weeks before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  4. (4)
    having a significant other who experiences a category 1A stressor within the 1 year before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  5. (5)
    experiencing the traumatic death of a significant other within the 2 years before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

    Note: significant other and traumatic death are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    being exposed to repeated or extreme aversive details of severe traumatic events before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  7. (7)
    experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

    Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  9. (9)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  10. (10)
    living or working in a hostile or life-threatening environment for a period of at least 4 weeks before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  11. (11)
    having a significant other who experiences a category 1A stressor within the 1 year before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  12. (12)
    experiencing the traumatic death of a significant other within the 2 years before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

    Note: significant other and traumatic death are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  13. (13)
    being exposed to repeated or extreme aversive details of severe traumatic events before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  14. (14)
    experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

    Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  15. (15)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for posttraumatic stress disorder;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(8) to 9(15) 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. 98 of 2022

13 factors

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

  1. (1)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  2. (2)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  3. (3)
    having a significant other who experiences a category 1A stressor within the 1 year before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  4. (4)
    experiencing the traumatic death of a significant other within the 2 years before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

    Note: significant other and traumatic death are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    being exposed to repeated or extreme aversive details of severe traumatic events before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  6. (6)
    experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical onset of posttraumatic stress disorder;

    Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    experiencing a category 1A stressor before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  8. (8)
    experiencing a category 1B stressor before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  9. (9)
    having a significant other who experiences a category 1A stressor within the 1 year before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  10. (10)
    experiencing the traumatic death of a significant other within the 2 years before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

    Note: significant other and traumatic death are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  11. (11)
    being exposed to repeated or extreme aversive details of severe traumatic events before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

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

  12. (12)
    experiencing severe childhood abuse before the clinical worsening of posttraumatic stress disorder;

    Note: severe childhood abuse is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  13. (13)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for posttraumatic stress disorder;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(7) to 9(13) 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.

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