DTQR and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (Compensation)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal, represented by Deputy President McDermott, considered a compensation claim brought by DTQR against the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. The dispute concerned DTQR's claims for permanent impairment lump sum compensation for psychiatric conditions, specifically undifferentiated somatoform disorder and major depressive disorder, and for compensation related to alcohol and cannabis use disorders. DTQR had previously been assessed at 10% Whole Person Impairment (WPI) and sought an increase of 10% or more, arguing that their incapacity was due to accepted conditions and impacted their activities of daily living.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether DTQR's psychiatric conditions warranted an increase in their WPI assessment of 10% or more, considering the impact on their daily activities and whether the incapacity was due to accepted conditions. Additionally, the Tribunal had to assess whether DTQR's alcohol and cannabis use disorders contributed to a significant degree to their military service or any accepted injury, and whether these constituted a condition for which medical treatment was payable under the relevant policy.

In reaching its decision, the Tribunal was not satisfied that DTQR had a Substance Use Disorder or Alcohol Use Disorder condition that was contributed to, to a significant degree, by their military service or any accepted injury. Consequently, the respondent was not liable to pay compensation for these conditions. The Tribunal affirmed the decisions under review in relation to both the permanent impairment claim and the claims for alcohol and cannabis use disorders.