The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide highlighted the crucial role professional advocates play in achieving successful DVA claims outcomes. Unlike volunteer services with limited resources, professional DVA advocates provide dedicated support, comprehensive case management, and expert knowledge of the Veterans' Entitlements Act (VEA), Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (MRCA), and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act (DRCA). Our fee structure funds continuous training, secure data systems, and personalised service that can significantly improve claim outcomes for Australian veterans.

Tactical Advocacy Group provides comprehensive DVA claims support including: initial liability assessments, permanent impairment (PI) claims preparation, Gold Card and White Card applications, SRDP and TPI submissions, appeals management, medical evidence coordination, retrospective medical discharge applications, and ongoing case management. We navigate all three Acts (VEA, MRCA, DRCA) and maintain secure online portals for real-time claim tracking. Our advocates handle complex multi-condition claims and coordinate with DVA approved specialists throughout Queensland.

Yes, TAG's advocacy team comprises Australian Defence Force veterans, former DVA employees, and professionals with extensive experience in both military service and DVA claims administration. This unique combination means our advocates understand the veteran experience firsthand whilst possessing extensive knowledge of DVA systems, procedures, and decision-making processes. Our team includes advocates who have personally navigated DVA claims as veterans, staff members who worked within DVA understanding delegate perspectives, and professionals combining both veteran status and DVA employment history. This dual expertise ensures we anticipate DVA requirements, communicate effectively with delegates, and advocate from positions of genuine understanding rather than theoretical knowledge alone.

TAG operates on a transparent no-win-no-fee structure with zero upfront costs. Our 6% success fee is only charged at the conclusion of your claim and only when we secure successful compensation outcomes. If your claim is unsuccessful, you pay nothing. This means you risk nothing whilst gaining expert professional representation throughout the entire DVA claims process. Our 6% fee structure funds continuous training for our advocates, secure data systems protecting your sensitive information, advanced claims tracking technology, comprehensive medical coordination, and personalised service that significantly improves claim outcomes. We discuss our complete fee structure during your free initial consultation with full transparency and no hidden costs.

Our DVA advocates have successfully managed thousands of claims for Australian veterans. Each advocate has personal experience navigating the DVA system and combines lived military experience with professional expertise. Our team includes veterans who understand service-related conditions, trauma-informed practices, and the complexities of military compensation frameworks. This unique combination of personal insight and professional training ensures superior outcomes for permanent impairment claims and liability determinations.

We implement advanced data security protocols for storage and transmission of sensitive information. All medical records, service documents, and personal information are protected through encrypted systems meeting DVA privacy requirements under the Privacy Act 1988. Our secure client portal provides 24/7 access whilst maintaining complete confidentiality of your sensitive veterans' compensation information.

Yes, we maintain comprehensive professional indemnity insurance as recommended by the Department of Veterans' Affairs. This protects veterans throughout the claims process and ensures professional standards in all compensation advocacy services. While not legally mandatory for paid advocates, we believe PI insurance is essential for protecting our clients' interests.

No documents are required for your initial free consultation. However, planning access to your service records, PMKeyS documents, and medical records will expedite the claims process. We guide you through obtaining all necessary documentation during onboarding.

Our advocates specialise in identifying all claimable conditions, often discovering multiple entitlements veterans were unaware of. We systematically assess service history to uncover secondary conditions, aggravations, and consequential injuries that maximise your total compensation under VEA, MRCA, or DRCA provisions. Multi-condition claims can significantly increase your overall compensation and may qualify you for additional benefits like Gold Cards.

TAG's leadership comprises Australian Defence Force veterans who have personally navigated DVA claims using both ESO and professional advocacy services. This firsthand experience drives our commitment to improving transition outcomes and maximising veterans' entitlements through expert representation.

The Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) covers service before July 2004. The Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) applies to all service from July 2004 onwards. The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) covers certain peacetime service before July 2004. Many veterans have eligibility under multiple Acts, requiring careful assessment to maximise entitlements. From July 2026, these will consolidate under new Veterans' legislation reforms.

The DVA Gold Card provides comprehensive healthcare coverage for all medical conditions, whether service-related or not. The White Card provides healthcare coverage for accepted service-related conditions only. Gold Card eligibility includes veterans meeting specific impairment thresholds, TPI/SRDP recipients, or those with qualifying operational service. Our advocates assess your eligibility and prepare compelling submissions to secure these valuable entitlements.

Mental health conditions including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders are claimable when related to military service. DVA recognises psychological injuries from operational deployments, training incidents, workplace trauma, and military sexual trauma (MST). Our trauma-informed advocates coordinate specialist psychiatric assessments and compile comprehensive evidence for successful mental health claims.

Provisional Access to Medical Treatment allows immediate healthcare access whilst your DVA claim processes. PAMT covers specific conditions with strong service connection evidence, enabling treatment without waiting for liability determination. The programme runs until 31 December 2026 and covers conditions including tinnitus, hearing loss, various musculoskeletal injuries, and certain skin conditions.

Yes, veterans have appeal rights through the Veterans' Review Board (VRB) and Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Professional representation significantly improves appeal success rates through expert evidence preparation, legal argument development, and tribunal advocacy. We manage the entire appeals process from review request to final determination.

The Special Rate Disability Pension, also known as TPI (Totally and Permanently Incapacitated), provides income support for veterans unable to work due to service injuries. SRDP provides tax-free pension payments, Gold Card healthcare, and additional allowances. Our advocates prepare comprehensive SRDP submissions demonstrating vocational impact and economic loss from your service injuries.

DVA compensation varies based on impairment levels, lifestyle impacts, and the applicable Act. MRCA provides lump sum payments and/or periodic payments, VEA provides disability pensions, and special rates apply for severely impaired veterans. TAG's advocates work to maximise your compensation by identifying all claimable conditions and ensuring accurate assessments that capture your injuries' full impact on earning capacity and quality of life.

Yes, current serving ADF members can lodge DVA claims for service-related injuries and illnesses. Early claims ensure immediate access to treatment and establish liability before discharge. Claims are processed confidentially without impacting your current service. TAG assists serving members with discreet professional advocacy, ensuring claims don't affect your service whilst maximising transition entitlements.

Initial Liability (IL) is DVA's acceptance that your medical condition is service-related, establishing eligibility for treatment and compensation. IL acceptance provides immediate benefits including DVA-funded medical treatment, access to White Card healthcare, eligibility for rehabilitation services, and foundation for permanent impairment claims. TAG's advocates prepare comprehensive IL submissions with strong medical evidence and service connection arguments that significantly improve acceptance rates.

Yes, many service-related conditions manifest or worsen years after discharge including degenerative conditions, delayed-onset mental health conditions, and progressive hearing loss. DVA recognises that service injuries often have latent onset periods. TAG successfully claims conditions diagnosed many years post-discharge by building compelling service connection arguments and obtaining specialist opinions on delayed causation.

Yes, dependants including spouses, partners, and children can claim DVA support if the veteran's death was service-related or resulted from accepted service conditions. Available benefits include education schemes for children, funeral benefits, bereavement counselling through Open Arms, and potential compensation for dependants. Surviving partners may qualify for Gold Card healthcare coverage in specific circumstances.

Common claimable conditions include hearing loss and tinnitus from noise exposure, back injuries from physical demands, PTSD from operational deployments, and osteoarthritis in weight-bearing joints. Claims require specialist medical assessments, evidence linking conditions to service activities, and proper documentation addressing Statement of Principles requirements. TAG coordinates specialist assessments, compiles service connection evidence, and prepares claims that maximise your compensation.

After lodging your DVA claim through MyService, you receive confirmation and a claim reference number. DVA assigns your case to a delegate who reviews evidence and may request additional information. Processing involves evidence review, possible medical assessments, delegate determination, and formal decision notification. TAG manages this entire process, responding promptly to DVA requests, coordinating examinations, and keeping you informed through our real-time claims tracker.

Yes, TAG provides professional DVA advocacy services throughout Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and all Queensland regions, plus nationwide through secure online platforms. We understand Queensland's large veteran population and provide equal service quality whether you're in metropolitan Brisbane or remote regional areas. Our digital service delivery ensures full professional advocacy regardless of your location across Australia.

Statements of Principles are legal instruments created by the Repatriation Medical Authority defining medical conditions claimable under DVA legislation and factors connecting them to service. Each SOP specifies diagnostic criteria, service activities causing conditions, and clinical onset timeframes. Successful claims must demonstrate your condition meets SOP requirements. TAG's advocates thoroughly understand SOPs and structure claims to address each factor, dramatically improving acceptance rates.

The Guide to the Assessment of Rates of Veterans' Pensions (GARP) is the medical assessment tool determining impairment levels for DVA compensation. GARP assessments measure anatomical loss, functional limitation, pain and suffering, and lifestyle impacts. Professional advocates ensure GARP assessments capture conditions' full impact through comprehensive medical evidence and proper functional documentation, preventing undervaluation of claims.

TAG provides professional private advocacy with dedicated resources, personalised service ratios, veterans who chose advocacy as careers, comprehensive case management from lodgement through appeals, no waiting lists, advanced technology including 24/7 claims tracking, and continuous professional development. ESO volunteers provide valuable free services but face workforce constraints and resource limitations. Both serve important roles - professional advocacy suits complex claims requiring dedicated expert support.

No. DVA compensation recognises the genuine sacrifices you made during service and provides support you've earned through military contributions. Unlike insurance claims or charity, DVA entitlements exist because Parliament acknowledged that military service creates unique risks deserving national compensation. You're not chasing money - you're claiming recognition for service-related conditions affecting your health, work capacity, and quality of life. TAG's veteran-led advocates understand this distinction and present your claim with the dignity your service deserves.

Yes, when choosing properly credentialed professional advocates like TAG who operate on transparent no-win-no-fee structures with complete alignment of interests. We only succeed when you succeed. TAG's credibility stems from: extensive DVA advocacy experience, veteran-led leadership who've personally navigated DVA systems, professional indemnity insurance protecting your interests, secure data systems safeguarding sensitive information, and membership in professional advocacy bodies maintaining ethical standards. You're never just a number to TAG - our veteran advocates provide personalised support understanding what military service demands.

You won't pay if your claim isn't successful. TAG operates on a strict no-win-no-fee basis with zero upfront costs, meaning you only pay when we secure successful compensation outcomes. Before accepting any case, we carefully assess claim strength through free initial consultations. If despite our best efforts DVA denies your claim, you owe nothing - we absorb all costs including medical coordination, evidence compilation, and submission preparation.

You absolutely can lodge DVA claims yourself - DVA provides MyService portal access, forms, and basic guidance for self-lodgement. However, most veterans benefit from professional expertise navigating complex legislation (VEA, MRCA, DRCA), understanding which Statements of Principles apply, coordinating DVA-experienced medical specialists, compiling comprehensive evidence, and managing appeals if needed. Professional advocacy provides expertise improving success probability, time savings allowing focus on recovery, stress reduction through professional management, and compensation optimisation.

ESO services provide valuable free advocacy but face significant constraints including workforce shortages, high caseloads limiting individual attention, volunteer availability restrictions, and resource limitations. TAG's professional service provides dedicated advocates with manageable caseloads, immediate service without waitlists, 24/7 claims tracking, comprehensive medical coordination, proactive DVA liaison, and appeals representation through VRB and ART. Many veterans try ESO services first, then engage TAG for more comprehensive support advancing their claims.