Defence & veteransCourt or tribunalExists today
Veterans' Review Board
VRB
1 January 1985 – present
Independent tribunal that reviews decisions on veterans' disability pensions, war widows' pensions and compensation claims made by the Repatriation Commission and, until 2026, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.
How it came into existence
Established on 1 January 1985 by the Repatriation Legislation Amendment Act 1984, replacing the Repatriation Review Tribunal as the first tier of external review, with further review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal; it was continued by the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.
- Review of war pension entitlement and assessment decisions
Legislation: Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
Changes during its life
- 22 May 1986Continued under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.
- 1 July 2004Gained jurisdiction to review decisions under the new Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.
- 14 October 2024Further review of its decisions passed from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to the new Administrative Review Tribunal.
Main functions
- Merits review of veterans' pension and entitlement decisions
- Review of military compensation decisions
- Alternative dispute resolution of veterans' claims
- Hearings for veterans and war widows
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))