Charles Knox
Some of you, my readers, are friends with Knoxy.
Read more about his recent success against DVA here: http://www.smh.com.au/national/soldier-left-blind-by-stress-of-army-20100122-mqp5.html
Summary: Knoxy was training with the ADF, marching with a heavy pack, and suddenly became blind. Unusual, huh?
Knoxy
Comments: When making a claim for an ADF service related injury one goes to DVA (Department of Veterans’ Affairs). The relevant section of DVA is Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (http://www.dva.gov.au/aboutDVA/overview/Pages/dva%20portfolio.aspx) If, as appears to be the case for Knoxy and myself, DVA screws you around, you THEN can ask the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to reassess DVA’s decision against you. In other words, if DVA won’t help, you can then ask AAT.
My point: the SMH article shows DVA would NOT help Charles, even though he suddenly became blind during ADF training. Then he went to AAT. And only then did DVA decide to come and help him out.
I find this shameful in two ways:
1. In itself it is shameful. DVA should have helped him out from the start.
2. DVA appears to have treated Knoxy as they are now treating me, and have been treating me for years. Therefore, I emphathise with Knoxy, since I know how DVA can be.
(I’ll write about DVA in chapters yet to be posted; ie. after chapter 30.)
[image from SMH article]
