A DVA impairment points calculator may help a veteran understand the structure of permanent impairment compensation, but it cannot produce a binding assessment or confirm that a DVA offer is correct.
From 1 July 2026, all new permanent impairment claims are assessed under the improved Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), regardless of when the veteran served or the injury or disease occurred. Claims lodged under the VEA or DRCA before that date generally continue under the legislation under which they were made.
For claims lodged from 1 July 2026, DVA applies the Guide to Determining Impairment and Compensation 2026, known as GARP M 2026. It contains the criteria used to assess medical impairment, lifestyle effects and the resulting compensation factor.
Myth 1: The diagnosis determines the payment
A diagnosis does not directly determine the number of impairment points or the amount of compensation payable.
GARP M 2026 assesses the medical impairment arising from accepted conditions. Depending on the condition, this may involve physical loss or disturbance to a body part or system, the resulting functional loss, or emotional and behavioural impairment.
Two veterans with the same diagnosis can therefore receive different impairment ratings because the severity, symptoms and resulting functional restrictions may differ.
Impairment points are not a percentage of fault, blame or whole-person incapacity. They also do not directly equal a fixed dollar amount. DVA considers the impairment points together with lifestyle effects and the applicable compensation factors when calculating permanent impairment compensation.
As a general rule, compensation becomes payable from 10 impairment points. A lower threshold of five points applies to hearing loss, loss of fingers or toes and loss of taste or smell. Different increase and baseline requirements may apply where a veteran has previously received compensation under the VEA, DRCA or MRCA.
Myth 2: More accepted conditions are simply added together
Where several conditions are accepted, the individual ratings are generally combined under the prescribed GARP M 2026 methodology. They are not ordinarily added together using simple arithmetic.
This reflects the MRCA’s whole-person approach and helps avoid overstating the total impairment where different conditions affect related functions or produce overlapping restrictions. A DVA points calculator that simply adds the ratings for each condition may therefore produce an inaccurate result.
For example, separate ratings of 20 impairment points and 10 impairment points do not necessarily result in a final rating of 30 points. The combined-values methodology must be applied in the required order, together with any rules concerning apportionment, overlapping impairment or different types of service.
The accepted-condition list is therefore important. A calculator cannot determine whether each relevant diagnosis has been accepted, whether an additional condition should have been included or whether DVA has counted the same functional loss more than once.
Myth 3: A calculator can confirm the compensation amount
A DVA PI calculator can only calculate an estimate from the information entered. It cannot determine whether the underlying medical and legal inputs are correct.
The final amount may depend on the accepted conditions, relevant GARP M 2026 tables, combined impairment rating, lifestyle rating, type of service and previous compensation. If periodic compensation is converted into a lump sum, the lump-sum calculation may also be affected by the veteran’s age under the applicable life-expectancy tables.
Age does not ordinarily decide the impairment points themselves. It becomes particularly relevant when periodic compensation is converted into a lump sum. A calculator that applies age to the medical impairment assessment or overlooks age when estimating a lump sum may therefore produce a misleading result.
A permanent impairment calculator may also fail to account for transitional rules. Where a veteran has previously compensated VEA or DRCA conditions, GARP M 2026 may require DVA to establish a baseline impairment rating and calculate compensation for the increase above that baseline. Chapter 25 contains a seven-step method for relevant claims and may require offsets for earlier compensation.
What to check against a calculator result
Use a DVA impairment points calculator to prepare questions rather than decide whether an offer is correct.
Check whether the decision identifies every accepted condition, applies the correct GARP M 2026 tables and accurately records the medical findings. The reasons should also explain how multiple ratings were combined and which lifestyle rating was used.
If the veteran has previously received VEA, DRCA or MRCA compensation, check whether DVA applied the correct baseline, increase and offset rules. Veterans with earlier VEA or DRCA compensation may require an increase of at least five impairment points before further compensation becomes payable under the improved MRCA.
The date of effect and payment option should also be considered. A calculator may estimate a figure, but it cannot decide whether the condition became permanent and stable on the correct date or whether the veteran should retain periodic payments, elect a lump sum or choose an available combination.
Before relying on a calculator
A DVA points calculator, DVA PI calculator or permanent impairment calculator may help illustrate how different inputs affect an estimate. It cannot establish liability, assess medical evidence, allocate impairment points or confirm that DVA’s lifestyle assessment is correct.
KSC Law can review the permanent impairment decision, the medical evidence and DVA’s calculations. We can identify whether conditions or functional restrictions were omitted, whether the correct combination and transitional rules were applied and which review pathway may be available.