---
title: "Veterans' claim evidence checklist against the Statement of Principles"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/social-security-and-veterans-entitlements/statement-of-principles-claim-evidence-checklist"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a56-statement-of-principles-claim-evidence-checklist"
area_id: "A56"
kind: "checklist"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
task_ids: ["A56-N20261018-9", "A56-N20261018-8"]
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-18"
---

# Veterans' claim evidence checklist against the Statement of Principles

> Checklist for testing a veteran's claimed condition against the applicable Statement of Principles: confirm the diagnosis, choose the reasonable hypothesis or balance of probabilities SoP for the service type, and map…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/social-security-and-veterans-entitlements/statement-of-principles-claim-evidence-checklist  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-18

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

Checklist for testing a veteran's claimed condition against the applicable Statement of Principles: confirm the diagnosis, choose the reasonable hypothesis or balance of probabilities SoP for the service type, and map each factor to evidence of its existence and its relation to service.

## Key facts

- Kind: Checklist. Steps or checks to work through and tick off.
- Practice area: [Social Security & Veterans' Entitlements](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/social-security-and-veterans-entitlements.md)
- Jurisdictions: Australia, Commonwealth
- AI level: Yellow. AI can help in set ways. A lawyer checks specific points before use.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-18
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-18 against the 2 authorities it cites, for Australia and Commonwealth.

## When to use it

Use when preparing or reviewing a DVA claim for an injury, disease or death, or a Veterans' Review Board application, where liability depends on a connection with service and a Statement of Principles exists for the condition.

## Used for these tasks

- [Map a claimed condition against the applicable Statement of Principles](https://ailawframework.com/practice/social-security-and-veterans-entitlements.md#A56-N20261018-9)
- [Index the service, medical and claim records for a veterans' claim](https://ailawframework.com/practice/social-security-and-veterans-entitlements.md#A56-N20261018-8)

## How AI may be used

AI may index the service and medical records and map them against the factors in the SoP the advocate has chosen; the advocate decides which SoP applies, whether each factor is met and whether expert evidence is needed.

**AI may:**

- Index service records, medical records and incident reports by date, source and condition
- Lay out each factor in the chosen SoP in the table, with its time and dose requirements quoted exactly
- Point to records that may evidence each factor, with page references, for the advocate to check

**AI must not:**

- Must not decide which SoP or standard of proof applies, or the client's type of service
- Must not conclude that a factor is met or that a condition is connected with service
- Must not paraphrase a SoP factor; quote it from the current instrument

**The lawyer checks:**

- The SoP used is the current instrument for the diagnosed condition and the correct one for the client's service (reasonable hypothesis or balance of probabilities)
- The diagnosis meets the SoP definition of the condition and is made by an appropriate medical practitioner
- Each factor relied on is evidenced, meets any time or dose requirement, and is related to service as the SoP requires
- Which Act governs the claim has been settled before the SoP analysis is relied on

## Authorities

- [Department of Veterans' Affairs, Compensation and Support Policy Library 4.5.2 What are Statements of Principles? (SoPs are legislative instruments; two SoPs for each condition)](https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-4-disability-compensation-eligibility/45-medical-connections-service/452-what-are-statements-principles)
- [DVA Policy Library 4.5.2: reasonable hypothesis SoP for operational, peacekeeping or hazardous service; balance of probabilities SoP for eligible war service or defence service; each SoP sets the factors that must exist and which must be related to service](https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-policy-library/part-4-disability-compensation-eligibility/45-medical-connections-service/452-what-are-statements-principles)

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/social-security-and-veterans-entitlements/statement-of-principles-claim-evidence-checklist and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*