Personal Statement (Statement in Support)
This is a guide onlyWe do not collect or store anything you write. Have your statements reviewed by an advocate before submitting to DVA.
When you need thisWith most DVA claims, but especially Initial Liability (D2582, D2051, D2020). Your personal statement tells DVA your side of the story in your own words.
Your personal statement is your chance to tell DVA what happened during your service in your own words. It supports the medical and service evidence you provide.DVA assessors read hundreds of these. The ones that stand out are specific, factual, and clearly describe how the condition has affected your life. You do not need to be a good writer — you need to be honest and detailed.
What DVA assessors generally look for
- DVA generally considers statements with specific dates, locations, and details more useful than general descriptions.
- Assessors look for consistency between your statement, medical records, and service records.
- Describing how the condition affects your daily functioning helps assessors understand the real-world impact.
- Factual language is more useful than emotional language — describe what happened and how it affects you, rather than how you feel about the process.
Section-by-Section Guide
Work through each section. Answer each prompt in your own words.1
Who you are
Why this section mattersThis identifies you and provides context about your service.
Questions to answer in this section- What is your full name?
- What is your PMKeyS / Service Number?
- When did you serve? (Start and end dates for each period of service.)
- What branch did you serve in? (Army, Navy, Air Force.)
- What units were you posted to?
- What was your rank and role?
2
The incident or exposure
Why this section mattersThis is the core of your statement — what happened during service that caused or contributed to your condition.
Questions to answer in this section- What happened? Describe the specific event, duty, or exposure.
- When did it happen? (Exact dates if you can, or approximate: "mid-2006", "during Operation X".)
- Where did it happen? (Base, deployment location, training area.)
- Who else was present? (Names of people who witnessed or were involved — they could provide buddy statements.)
- Was there an incident report filed at the time? If not, why not?
- If this was an ongoing exposure (not a single event), describe how often and for how long.
Writing tipBe specific. Instead of "I was in a stressful environment", describe what made it stressful: the events, the conditions, the duties. DVA needs facts, not interpretations.
3
When symptoms started
Why this section mattersDVA needs to understand the timeline between your service and when you started experiencing problems.
Questions to answer in this section- When did you first notice symptoms? (During service or after discharge?)
- Did you tell anyone about your symptoms at the time? (Mates, medical officer, chain of command.)
- If you did not seek help at the time, why not? (It is very common for veterans to delay — explain your reasons.)
- When did you first see a doctor about this condition?
- How have your symptoms changed over time?
4
How the condition affects your daily life
Why this section mattersDVA assessors need to understand the real-world impact of your condition, not just the diagnosis.
Questions to answer in this section- What daily activities are harder or impossible now because of this condition?
- How has it affected your work? (Hours reduced, jobs lost, duties you can no longer perform.)
- How has it affected your relationships? (Family, friends, social activities.)
- What could you do before that you cannot do now, or can only do with difficulty?
- Does it affect your sleep, driving, household tasks, or self-care?
5
Treatment history
Why this section mattersThis shows DVA you have sought help and provides context for your medical evidence.
Questions to answer in this section- When did you first seek treatment?
- What treatment have you received? (Medication, physiotherapy, counselling, surgery.)
- Are you currently receiving treatment? What does it involve?
- Has treatment helped? If so, how much?
Tips
- Be specific with dates — even approximate dates are better than none.
- Name witnesses where you can. They can provide buddy statements to support yours.
- Describe the impact on your life with concrete examples: "I can no longer coach my kids footy team because standing for more than 20 minutes causes severe knee pain."
- It is okay to say "I do not remember the exact date" — just give as much context as you can.
- Write in your own words. DVA does not expect polished writing — they want your honest account.
- Keep a copy of everything you write.
- If writing this brings up difficult feelings, take a break. You can also call Open Arms on 1800 011 046.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being too brief — a one-paragraph statement rarely gives DVA enough detail.
- No dates or locations — without these, DVA cannot match your account to service records.
- No functional impact — describing the condition without explaining how it affects your daily life.
- Only describing emotions without facts — "It was terrible" is less useful than describing what actually happened.
- Not mentioning witnesses — if someone else saw what happened, name them.
- Copying someone else's statement — DVA can tell, and it hurts your credibility.
What to do next
This is a guide only. We do not collect or store any information. Always verify with DVA directly or with a qualified advocate.