Jess JohnsonFormer prime minister John Howard stood before the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on 11 October 2026 to honour the more than 35,000 Australians who served in Afghanistan — exactly 25 years after Australia first deployed forces following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Howard, who made the decision to send troops, said he had no regrets about Australia's involvement and spoke of the gains for women and girls that have since been reversed under the Taliban.
Yet as the nation paused to mark the anniversary, tens of thousands of veterans from that conflict are still fighting a very different kind of battle: navigating a Department of Veterans' Affairs system that, as at June 2026, carried more than 103,000 claims on hand — and average processing times for incapacity payments stretching to 364 days.
Twenty-Five Years On: The Full Toll of Afghanistan Service
Operation Slipper, Australia's military contribution to the International Security Assistance Force, ran from October 2001 to December 2014. Over that period, more than 35,000 Australians served in Afghanistan or in the broader Middle East Area of Operations, according to DVA. The Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial records 47 ADF personnel killed in service, and 263 Australians were wounded in action.
The human cost did not end with withdrawal. Australia's involvement in a prolonged counterinsurgency — including rotations through Uruzgan Province — exposed thousands of service members to traumatic events, physical injuries, and conditions that can take years to fully manifest. Musculoskeletal damage, hearing loss, post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic brain injury are among the most commonly reported conditions linked to Afghan service.
Veterans returning from Afghanistan are covered by the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), which entitles eligible service members to compensation for injuries, incapacity payments, permanent impairment lump sums, and funded rehabilitation. The Act also provides death benefits to the dependants of veterans who die as a result of their service. But knowing you are entitled to compensation and successfully navigating the claims process are two very different things.
DVA's Claims Crisis: What the Numbers Reveal
The 25th anniversary commemoration takes place against a backdrop of growing concern about DVA's capacity to process claims in a timely fashion. In the 2025–26 financial year, DVA received 109,221 new claims — an increase of 8.0 per cent on the previous year — while determining only 94,433, according to DVA's own published claims processing data. That gap means the backlog expanded, not contracted.
As at 30 June 2026, DVA held 103,074 claims on hand. Of these, 32,925 were unallocated — meaning no processing had yet started — while 70,149 were being actively worked. For MRCA incapacity payment claims specifically, the average processing time was 364 days, up from 315 days the previous financial year.
For veterans unable to work due to a service-related condition, a 12-month wait for a determination is not a bureaucratic inconvenience — it is a financial emergency. Yet many veterans are not aware that they have legal rights to request urgent processing, challenge delays, or appeal unfavourable decisions. The MRCA system provides specific review pathways at each stage, and a legal professional experienced in veterans' law can make the difference between a claim that stalls and one that succeeds.
The Expert View: Why Legal Advice at Lodgement Changes Outcomes
Many MRCA claims are denied or significantly delayed not because the veteran lacks a genuine entitlement, but because the claim was lodged without evidence that matches the precise criteria set out in the relevant Statement of Principles (SoP) — the evidentiary framework published by the Repatriation Medical Authority for more than 150 recognised conditions.
The SoP system actually works in veterans' favour: if a condition appears on the list, it is presumed to be service-related unless DVA can prove otherwise. But the SoPs contain highly specific wording about required factors and qualifying timeframes. A medical report that describes a diagnosis in clinical terms — but does not address the specific SoP factors — may result in a denial that could have been avoided with better preparation.
Veterans' lawyers and registered advocates understand how to frame a claim to match SoP language, how to identify which conditions require which evidence, and how to build the file before lodgement. Given that the Veterans' Review Board accepted 67 per cent of applications heard in 2024–25 (per DVA's annual report), the system does correct errors on review — but getting to that stage takes additional months and requires the veteran to navigate a separate process.
The practical lesson from the claims data is this: investing in expert legal or advocacy support at the time of initial lodgement is far more efficient than mounting an appeal later. And for many veterans, the financial stakes are high enough to justify it.
When Tom's Claim Stalls for Nearly a Year
Consider this scenario: a veteran in their mid-40s — call him Tom — who served two rotations in Uruzgan Province between 2008 and 2011. Tom left the ADF in 2019 and worked in logistics for several years. By late 2025, a progressive knee condition linked to his service made it impossible to continue in that role. He lodged an MRCA incapacity payment claim in January 2026.
Under DVA's published average processing time of 364 days as at June 2026, Tom would not expect a determination until approximately January 2027 — a full 12 months without resolution.
During that period, Tom's fortnightly income dropped by approximately $1,400 — the gap between his pre-incapacity earnings and the Centrelink Disability Support Pension he qualified for in the interim. Over 12 months, that shortfall compounds to roughly $36,400 in lost income.
If DVA denies Tom's claim, he has 28 days to request an internal reconsideration. If that is also denied, he can escalate to the Veterans' Review Board — a free, independent merits review body — within 12 months of the reconsideration decision. A further right of appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal exists for questions of legal error.
At each stage, professional legal assistance substantially improves outcomes. An initial legal consultation for a veterans' compensation matter typically costs between $150 and $350, and many practices offer reduced-fee or pro bono arrangements through the RSL Australia advocacy network. Against the potential value of MRCA incapacity payments — which can amount to $800–$1,400 per fortnight for a veteran previously earning an average wage — the return on a well-prepared claim is significant.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Veterans with specific questions about their entitlements should consult a qualified legal professional or contact DVA directly.
What to Do If Your DVA Claim Is Delayed or Denied
If you or a family member has a DVA claim that has been pending for more than six months — or has been declined — there are concrete steps available:
Request urgent processing. DVA can prioritise claims in genuine financial hardship situations. Contact DVA's 1800 VETERAN line with documentary evidence of the hardship, including bank statements and evidence of current income loss.
Engage an advocate or lawyer early. RSL Australia and Legacy Australia both offer free advocacy for DVA claims. For matters involving significant incapacity payments, permanent impairment claims, or complex appeal proceedings, a specialist veterans' lawyer provides targeted strategic assistance that advocacy services may not be resourced to offer.
Know your review deadlines. The MRCA's review framework has strict time limits: 28 days for an internal reconsideration request, then 12 months to apply to the VRB. Missing these windows can permanently extinguish your right of review.
Match your evidence to the Statement of Principles. Check whether your condition appears in the Repatriation Medical Authority's SoP database. If it does, ensure your medical evidence addresses each of the SoP's specified factors directly, not just the diagnosis in general terms.
As John Howard's tribute on 11 October 2026 reminded all Australians, the service of those who deployed to Afghanistan carries consequences that stretch across decades. For veterans still navigating the DVA system a quarter century later, understanding your legal rights is not merely useful — it can determine your financial security for years to come.
DVA's official Afghanistan commemoration page and claims lodgement portal is available at dva.gov.au/AFGHAN25.
