Source: http://clik.dva.gov.au/print/book/export/html/16723
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﻿ 12.5.6 Veterans' Compensation and Review of Decisions by the Repatriation Commission
Home > Compensation and Support Policy Library > Part 12 Compliance and Obligations > 12.5 Reviews and Appeals > 12.5.6 Veterans' Compensation and Review of Decisions by the Repatriation Commission
This section outlines what decisions on income support and veterans' compensation matters may be reviewed by the Commission [2][glossary:,:] and the process of review.
According to Section 179 [3]of the VEA [3], the Commission is a body corporate under the name of Repatriation Commission.
funeral benefits under section 99 or 100 of the VEA, More ? [6]
loss of earnings allowance. More ? [7]
If a request for review contains information that would have caused the delegate [2] to make a different decision initially, had the additional information been available, there is no need to conduct a formal review of the original decision. This can only be done where the:
Persons who have not claimed or who are not in receipt of a pension, may request a review of certain decisions under the VEA [2]. Decisions which may be reviewed are:
rejection of a person's claim for attendant allowance [9][glossary:,:]
rejection of a person's claim for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card [2], and
cancellation of a person's entitlement to a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. More ? [10]
Section 115 [11] VEA
Chapter 8.3 [13]
Section 118ZS [11] VEA
Section 135(1) [11] VEA
Chapter 5.7 [17]
The purpose of attendant allowance is to assist an eligible Veterans [19], Members of the Forces [20], or a Member of a Peacekeeping Force [21]with the cost of an attendant to help with such things as feeding, bathing, dressing and other activities of daily living. The allowance is paid to the veteran and not the attendant.
To be eligible for attendant allowance the person must be in receipt of a Disability Pension [22]for Incapacity [23]for a war-caused or defence-caused injury or Disease [24]that severely affects a persons' ability to care for themselves. Attendant allowance is payable at a higher or a lower rate depending on the type of Injury [25]or disease accepted under the Veterans' Entitlements Act.
VEA → [27]
The Commission [2] can review its own decisions on veterans' compensation pensions or attendant allowance under section 31 [28] in the VEA [2][glossary:.:] This is a relatively quick and informal review process.
When can a section 31 review be requested?
The Commission can review any decision that the VRB [2] or AAT [2] is able to review (with the person's consent in the case of AAT Review), provided that:
it is still within the time limits for application for VRB or AAT review, (i.e., within 12 months of a VRB decision for a VRB review of a decision relating to eligibility for a pension and within three months otherwise), or
an application has been made to the VRB or AAT for a review, and
the VRB or AAT has not yet made a determination.
It is not the usual practice of the Commission to have a matter before the AAT referred back for section 31 review.
More → [29]
When can a section 31 review be made without a request?
The Commission can review decisions under section 31 without a request from the pensioner in certain circumstances. These include:
a manifest error in the date approved by the VRB in its decision substituting a Commission decision, VEA → [30]
a decision the Commission made with evidence before it that was false, VEA → [31]
where the Commission is satisfied that disability pension or attendant allowance should be cancelled, suspended or is higher or less than it should be, and VEA → [32]
where the Commission is satisfied that the rate of pension payable to a veteran is higher than it should be because the degree of incapacity for accepted conditions [2] for war caused injury or disease is less than 10%. VEA → [33]
Section 31 review does not preclude VRB review
Applicants may seek review under both section 31 and from the VRB if they wish to do so. A decision made under section 31 does not remove the right of the applicant to proceed to a VRB hearing on the matter, but in many instances this will be unnecessary. To protect later review rights of the claimant, a VRB application is sought at the same time as the section 31 application.
Section 31 review at the discretion of the Commission
Whether the Commission [2] conducts a section 31 review is at the Commission's discretion. If the Commission refuses or fails to review a decision under section 31, neither the VRB [2] nor the AAT can review that refusal or failure to review.
Section 31 [28] VEA
VEA → (go back) [35]
Review by the VRB
Section 12.5.3 [36]
Section 31(3) [38] VEA
VEA → (go back) [39]
Section 31(4) [40] VEA
Section 31(6) [42] VEA
VEA → (go back) [43]
Section 31(6A) [44] VEA
VEA → (go back) [45]
Section 31(10) [46] VEA
VEA → (go back) [47]
An accepted condition means an injury [2] or disease [2] that has been determined under the VEA [2] to be war-caused or defence-caused.
If a person dies after requesting a review, the review can be processed in the usual manner. However, action must be taken to identify the legal personal representative of the deceased person. The legal personal representative or “approved” person should be served with a notice of the decision, and may take appropriate action that the person could have taken, such as requesting a further review.
If there is no legal personal representative of a deceased appellant, a suitable person will be appointed by the Commission [2] to act on behalf of the deceased.
Section 126 [11] VEA
Section 126A [11] VEA
A person is taken to have been notified of a decision by the Commission [2] when a properly addressed, pre-paid post and posted, letter advising of the decision has been delivered to the claimant. It would be reasonable to allow five working days for delivery of this letter as set out in section 163 of the Evidence Act 1995.
The date of lodgment of an application for review is the date on which the request is received at an office of DVA [2] or an office approved by Commission [2], or by an officer of the Department in the course of duty away from the office.
Late request for a review
If a person requests a review after the allowable three months period, the person must be advised that the time to apply for a review of the decision has expired and possible options available.
In reviewing a decision, the Commission [2] or its delegate [2] or an authorised person may, although it is rarely done:
administer an oath or affirmation to the person appearing,
in the case of section 31 reviews, requests that the Secretary or the person likely to be affected by the review provide relevant material, and
in the case of section 31 reviews, request that the person likely to be affected by the review discuss the review, either by appearing before the Commission or discussion on the telephone.
The Commission may not require them to give evidence or produce documents.
That person must also be advised of their right to review by the AAT [2] if appeal rights to the Tribunal are available. An employee of the Department, in writing, will make this service and notification.
In the case of a section 31 review, the decision and statement of reasons must be served on:
ESO representative, or legal personal representative, or
the person likely to by affected by the review.
Information of a medical or psychiatric nature may be withheld from the patient because it may affect the well-being of the person. Access to the document(s) may be given instead to a medical practitioner nominated by the person making the request. The Determining Officer who reviews the case makes the decision regarding the nature and extent of access to such information.
Commission may take evidence
Section 32 [11] VEA
Section 34 [11] VEA
Section 34(3) [11] VEA
Source URL (modified on 16/10/2014 - 2:11pm): http://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-12-compliance-and-obligations/125-reviews-and-appeals/1256-veterans-compensation-and-review-decisions-repatriation-commission
[1] http://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=node/16723%23comment-form
[4] http://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=node/16740%23comment-form
[5] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn124
[6] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn125
[7] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn126
[8] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn127
[9] clikpopup://DEF/Attendant Allowance
[10] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn128
[12] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn124
[13] http://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-8-bereavement-assistance/83-funeral-benefits
[14] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn125
[15] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn126
[16] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn127
[17] http://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-5-income-support-allowances-and-benefits/57-commonwealth-seniors-health-card-cshc
[18] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn128
[19] http://clik/glossary/veteran
[20] http://clik/glossary/member-forces
[21] http://clik/glossary/members-peacekeeping-force
[22] http://clik/glossary/disability-pension
[23] http://clik/glossary/incapacity
[24] http://clik/glossary/disease
[25] http://clik/glossary/injury
[26] http://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=node/16760%23comment-form
[27] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn129
[28] clik://LEGIS/VEA/section 31
[29] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn130
[30] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn131
[31] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn132
[32] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn133
[33] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn134
[34] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn135
[35] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn129
[36] http://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-12-compliance-and-obligations/125-reviews-and-appeals/1253-review-administrative-appeals-tribunal-aat-income-support-matters
[37] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn130
[38] clik://LEGIS/VEA/section 31(3)
[39] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn131
[40] clik://LEGIS/VEA/section 31(4)
[41] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn132
[42] clik://LEGIS/VEA/section 31(6)
[43] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn133
[44] clik://LEGIS/VEA/section 31(6A)
[45] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn134
[46] clik://LEGIS/VEA/section 31(10)
[47] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn135
[48] http://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=node/16775%23comment-form
[49] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn136
[50] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn137
[51] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn136
[52] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn137
[53] http://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=node/16745%23comment-form
[54] http://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=node/16765%23comment-form
[55] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn138
[56] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn139
[57] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#tgt-cspol_part12_ftn140
[58] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn138
[59] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn139
[60] http://clik.dva.gov.au/book/export/html/16723#ref-cspol_part12_ftn140