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Old 06-11-2006, 07:48 PM
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And this an interesting little add on that I summoned up from a .pdf file in relation to how DVA are handling cases.

Quote:
The Department of Veterans Affairs provided the following statistics and background information about claims by veterans of the East Timor peacekeeping operation.

DVA records show that 2,782 veterans who have served in East Timor have made service related compensation claims, many veterans make multiple claims for a variety of conditions. We do know that a total of 12,895 claims have been made by East Timor veterans, of which 8,767 have been accepted. Of the 2,782 veterans to have made claims, 316 have had no claims accepted.

Free treatment and support for mental health related conditions such as PTSD is also available to East Timor veterans regardless of the cause of the condition.

In addition 1440 East Timor veterans are receiving ongoing disability pensions of varying degrees including 128 who receive full pensions as TPI (Totally and Permanently Incapacitated) and 47 who are TTI (Totally Temporarily Incapacitated). Some veterans who are assessed to receive for example 60 per cent disability pension at times seek reassessment for a higher rate of pension and if unsuccessful are disappointed that their pension won't be upgraded.

Re Writeway

Military research reports are sought in situations where there is not enough evidence to support the contentions put forward in a claim. They are requested in a very small number of cases and, of the reports prepared, very few are the subject of dispute. For example, in 2004 - 05 the Repatriation Commission determined just over 51,300 disabilities under the VEA. Research reports were used in less than one percent of these determinations.

Re East Timor claims, I am told that the less than one per cent rule would also apply to those.

1) DVA does not have readily available statistics for military research broken down by state or by research firm. However, in the last four financial years DVA has commissioned 1,836 reports in total across Australia. This includes 415 reports in 2005-06.

(2) As at 30 June 2006 there were in excess of 453,000 net total beneficiaries in receipt of a benefit under Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

(3) In the 2004-05 financial year 51,332 disabilities were determined. A claimant may lodge claims for multiple disabilities.

* Researchers sometimes find evidence that supports contentions, sometimes it is neutral and on other occasions it might contradict them. The success of some claims can be directly attributed to Writeway's work.

Investigation of Claims

In investigating a claim for disability pension, the claims assessor generally relies on the veteran's service/medical records and a recent medical report providing a diagnosis and current status of the condition. If the claim relies on determining whether a particular event occurred or if the veteran was involved in a particular event, the claims assessor can access military history sources available within the Department.
  1. Almost all of the researchers are former Defence Force members who possess a good understanding of Defence service and have expertise in locating relevant Defence records.
  2. The researcher consults published material and official records and may interview persons with knowledge of the operations of the unit in which the veteran served. In undertaking this work, the researcher is only required to address specific questions put by my Department.
  3. Before a claim can be refused due to material in a researcher's report, a copy of the report is provided to the claimant so that he or she has the opportunity to examine the researcher's findings.
  4. The claims assessor may request the researcher to provide a further report in relation to the claimant's response.
  5. A final decision is not made until the claimant has had an opportunity to comment on all reports made by the researcher.
  6. If unsatisfied with a decision, a veteran has avenues of appeal through the Veterans' Review Board, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Courts.
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