KSC Law, Level 34, 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane City (2026)

14/10/2026

One less hoop to jump through?

From 1 July 2026, DVA introduced presumptive liability for certain service-related conditions.

For eligible claims, DVA may be able to accept that a condition is connected to military service without requiring the veteran to prove that link through the usual liability process.

That does not mean every condition is automatically accepted.
A confirmed diagnosis is still required, and some conditions have specific criteria around the type or length of service, exposure or when the condition developed.

But where the criteria are met, the change is designed to make some claims simpler and faster. DVA says eligible presumptive-liability claims may be determined in less than two weeks as part of the allocation process.

Not sure whether your condition may fall within the new arrangements? KSC Law can help you understand what applies.

14/10/2026

I HAVE 80 DVA IMPAIRMENT POINTS. SHOULD I AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A CSC INVALIDITY PENSION?

Not automatically.

This is a common source of confusion because DVA and CSC may consider some of the same medical evidence, but they administer separate systems and apply different tests.

DVA may accept liability for an injury or disease related to your ADF service. If your accepted conditions cause permanent impairment, DVA can assess the degree of medical impairment under GARP M and consider the combined lifestyle effects when calculating permanent impairment compensation.

An assessment of 80 impairment points is significant, but it does not automatically entitle you to a CSC invalidity pension.

CSC conducts its own assessment focused on your incapacity for appropriate civilian employment. This may include considering:

• your relevant medical conditions
• your skills, qualifications and experience
• the types of civilian employment you could reasonably undertake
• the effect of the relevant conditions on your capacity to perform that work

CSC then makes an invalidity classification under the rules of the applicable superannuation scheme.

Your DVA decision and medical evidence may be relevant to the CSC assessment. However:

• DVA’s acceptance of liability does not determine your CSC entitlement
• 80 DVA impairment points do not convert into a CSC incapacity percentage
• a DVA permanent impairment assessment does not automatically result in a CSC Class A or Class B classification
• CSC must make its own decision under the applicable scheme

DVA assesses impairment arising from accepted service-related conditions. CSC assesses incapacity for appropriate civilian employment. They are not the same test.

If you left the ADF without being medically transitioned, there may also be a separate question about whether a retrospective invalidity assessment is available.

13/10/2026

DVA processed a huge volume of claims in 2025–26.⁠

More than 109,000 claims were received during the financial year, while tens of thousands were still waiting to be allocated at the end of June. ⁠
⁠
That tells two stories at once.⁠
⁠
There is clearly a lot of work moving through the system, but for the veteran waiting on an individual decision, the experience can still feel anything but fast.⁠
⁠
Behind every number is someone waiting for clarity about treatment, compensation, work, finances or what comes next.⁠
⁠
If you’re unsure where your claim is up to or what your options are, getting clear advice can help make the process easier to navigate.⁠
⁠

12/10/2026

CAN I RECEIVE DVA INCAPACITY PAYMENTS AND A CSC INVALIDITY PENSION AT THE SAME TIME?

The short answer is yes, potentially.

However, that does not necessarily mean you will receive both payments in full.

DVA incapacity payments compensate for economic loss caused by an accepted service-related condition. When calculating your entitlement, DVA takes relevant Commonwealth superannuation payments into account.

This can become particularly important where CSC retrospectively determines that you were entitled to a Class A or Class B invalidity benefit. If the CSC entitlement covers a period when you were already receiving incapacity payments, DVA may reassess what you were paid and recover an overpayment from the CSC arrears or, in some cases, from you.

So the real question is not simply:

“Can I receive both?”

It is:

“How will the CSC benefit affect my DVA incapacity payments, including any previous payments and future entitlement?”

The answer will depend on your CSC scheme, classification, dates of entitlement and individual payment history.

KSC Law can help veterans understand the interaction between DVA incapacity payments and CSC invalidity benefits before they make decisions about a claim.

10/10/2026

AFGHAN25 | 25 years of Australian service in Afghanistan⁠
⁠
Today we mark 25 years since the beginning of Australian service in Afghanistan.⁠
⁠
We acknowledge the Australians who served throughout the Afghanistan conflict, the families who supported them, and those whose lives continue to be shaped by their service.⁠
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We remember those who did not return, and recognise the service, sacrifice and experiences carried by veterans and their families.⁠
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Image: Gary Ramage, P07964.008. Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial.⁠
⁠

10/10/2026

Today is World Mental Health Day.⁠
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This year’s theme, Together We Thrive, is a reminder that mental wellbeing isn’t something we build entirely on our own. Connection, belonging and feeling supported all matter. Mental Health Australia⁠
⁠
For the veteran and Defence community, that connection can look different for everyone. It might be family, mates, sport, routine, time outdoors, professional support, or simply having someone who understands.⁠
Today is a good day to check in with yourself and with the people around you.⁠
⁠
What helps you feel grounded, connected or supported?⁠
⁠

09/10/2026

BREAKING NEWS
Veterans Launch Class Action Over Alleged Medical Data Sharing.

A class action has been launched against the federal government alleging the Department of Veterans’ Affairs routinely shared veterans’ medical information with the University of South Australia through the MATES program without informed consent.

The MATES program operated for around 20 years and used DVA healthcare card data to identify medication-related health risks. Lawyers acting for the plaintiff allege many veterans were unaware their information was being shared, and around 300,000 people may have been affected.
The case is now before the Victorian Supreme Court. DVA says the program operated under ethics approvals, contractual arrangements and data-security requirements, and has declined to comment further while proceedings are underway.

For veterans, this raises important questions about privacy, consent and how sensitive health information is handled.

We’ll be watching this matter closely as it progresses.
Read the full ABC report:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-09/mates-program-class-action-against-veterans-affairs-department/107215484?

09/10/2026

CONTENT WARNING: This post refers to su***de.

Defence Convicted Over Failure to Manage Psychosocial Risk

The Department of Defence has been convicted and fined $188,000 after pleading guilty to breaching its work health and safety duty in connection with the death of Corporal Timothy Evans at RAAF Base Williamtown in 2020. The conviction was the first of its kind for a Commonwealth employer concerning a failure to manage psychosocial risks under federal work health and safety laws.

The proceedings concerned the use of a draft Work Plan as a performance management process. Defence admitted that supervisors had not been given the necessary training to recognise how performance management could become a psychosocial hazard, identify risks to personnel or understand when it may be necessary to suspend the process and refer someone for medical assessment.

This case is a powerful reminder that workplace safety is not limited to physical hazards.

Policies alone are not enough. Leaders must be properly trained, warning signs must lead to meaningful action, and performance management must never be treated as separate from an organisation’s responsibility to protect its people.

ADF personnel deserve systems that recognise psychosocial risk early and leaders equipped to respond before further harm occurs.
Our thoughts are with Corporal Evans’ family, friends and those affected by this tragedy.

KSC Law is Built by veterans. Fierce advocates for our veteran clients.

Read the public notice from Defence:
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2026-09-30/important-public-notice

If this story raises concerns for you or someone you know, immediate support is available through Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Open Arms on 1800 011 046. In an emergency, call 000.

07/10/2026

The Royal Commission may have concluded, but the work must continue

KSC Law CEO and veteran Luke Armstrong attended the 24 Months On Conference in Canberra, joining veterans, advocates, clinicians, researchers and sector leaders for a day of important and sometimes challenging discussion.

The program included Brendan Cox, CEO of the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency, alongside speakers examining veteran mental health, transition, service exposure, institutional accountability and cooperative advocacy. Veteran Damien Thomlinson led the day as Master of Ceremonies.

These conversations are important because lasting reform will not happen through recommendations alone. It requires continued scrutiny, honest discussion and a willingness across the veteran support sector to learn, collaborate and improve.

That is why organisations such as the Pro Patria Centre Australia play such an important role. By creating platforms for real conversations, they help ensure that the experiences of veterans and their families remain visible and that the momentum for better services and stronger support is not lost following the Royal Commission.

07/10/2026

GOOD NEWS, EVERYONE!⁠
⁠
One of the changes under the improved MRCA is presumptive liability.⁠
For certain conditions, DVA may now be able to accept that the condition is service-related without requiring the usual evidence to establish the link between the condition and military service.⁠
⁠
That doesn’t mean every claim is automatically accepted. The condition must be one covered by the presumptive liability rules, and eligibility criteria such as diagnosis, type of service or length of service can still apply.⁠
⁠
But for eligible veterans, it may mean one less hoop to jump through.⁠
Not sure whether the change applies to you? KSC Law can help you understand where you stand.⁠
⁠

KSC Law

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