DVA RAP & Compression Stockings: A Guide for Veteran Card Holders

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP) supplies aids and equipment — including medical compression garments — to eligible Veteran Card holders. This guide explains how the compression garment stream works, who typically qualifies, what your prescriber completes and where a private retailer fits. Checked against DVA’s published RAP guidance on 28 Sep 2026. DVA’s own pages, the RAP National Schedule of Equipment and your prescriber are the authority on your entitlement.

How RAP works for compression garments

RAP is a prescription-and-supply program. A health professional authorised for the item category assesses your clinical need, completes the order form and sends it to a supplier who holds a DVA contract. The supplier fills the order and arranges delivery to you. For standard, ready-to-wear garments on the schedule, no prior approval is needed; for custom-made or non-standard garments, the prescriber attaches clinical justification and the contracted supplier seeks prior approval from DVA before supplying.

DVA updated its compression garment procedures on 15 April 2024 and republished the RAP National Schedule of Equipment in November 2025. The schedule sets the item codes, prescriber types and the financial and quantity limits for each product line; your prescriber can tell you how many garments, and how often, apply to your order. Anything above those limits needs DVA’s prior approval.

Who typically qualifies

Two things must be true: you hold the right card, and a prescriber has assessed a clinical need. Gold Card holders can access RAP items for any assessed need. White Card holders can access items only where the need relates to a condition DVA has accepted — you can see your accepted conditions in your MyService account. If you receive care through another program (for example aged care or a state scheme) your prescriber may need to check which funder is responsible.

What your prescriber provides

• An assessment of clinical need and measurements for the garment.
• A completed D0992 Order Form naming the product code from the RAP schedule, class, size, quantity and your Veteran Card details.
• For allied health prescribers, evidence of a current referral from a GP, specialist or hospital discharge team.
• For custom or non-standard garments, or quantities above the schedule limit, written clinical justification for the prior-approval request.

How to order with DVA funding

1. See your GP or an authorised prescriber. If you will see a physiotherapist, podiatrist, OT or nurse, make sure you have a GP or specialist referral first, as RAP requires it for allied health prescribing.
2. Prescriber completes the D0992. They specify the garment from the RAP schedule and send the form to a DVA-contracted supplier. Custom garments go through the prior-approval step at this point.
3. Contracted supplier delivers. The supplier fills the order and arranges delivery. Follow up with the supplier or DVA on 1800 550 457 if the garments have not arrived in a reasonable time.
4. Top up privately if you need to. If you would like more pairs than RAP supplies, a different colour, or a pair before the order arrives, that is a private purchase you can make with us at any time.

Where Compression Stockings Online fits

We are an Australian-owned retailer (TW Marketing Pty Ltd, ABN 58 635 434 507, Riverview NSW) and an authorised stockist of Sigvaris, JOBST, Venosan, Juzo and Bauerfeind. Compression Stockings Online is not a DVA-contracted RAP supplier, so we cannot fill D0992 orders, and we cannot assess eligibility, complete forms or approve items. Where we can help:

• Understanding the prescription. If your D0992 names a class (for example 15–20 or 20–30 mmHg), a length and a style, we can explain what that means and show you the equivalent products, including for private extras.
• Sizing. Our sizing calculator takes about a minute; our team can also check ankle, calf and thigh measurements over the phone on (02) 9062 3243.
• Private purchases. Extra sets, different colours and travel or work pairs ship from Sydney within two business days, with free delivery over $150. Every order comes with a tax invoice listing our ABN, item description, class and size, which many private health funds accept.
• Size swaps on unopened items under our returns policy.

RAP garments are supplied through DVA’s own contracted suppliers, listed at dva.gov.au/RAPSuppliers. Compression Stockings Online is not on that list, so anything you buy from us is a private purchase.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for compression garments through DVA?

Holders of a Veteran Gold Card, or a Veteran White Card where the garment is needed for an accepted condition, who have an assessed clinical need. White Card holders can check their accepted conditions in MyService.

Which health professionals can prescribe them?

DVA lists registered nurses, physiotherapists, podiatrists, general practitioners, medical specialists and occupational therapists. Allied health professionals need a valid referral from a GP, specialist or hospital discharge team before they can prescribe under RAP.

Which form is used?

The prescriber completes the D0992 Order Form — RAP Mobility & Functional Support Products — and sends it to a DVA-contracted supplier. For custom or non-standard garments the prescriber adds clinical justification and the contracted supplier obtains prior approval from DVA.

Can I buy garments myself and claim the cost from DVA?

RAP works through DVA-contracted suppliers; it is not designed as a reimbursement scheme. DVA notes that if you buy an item without a clinical assessment and prescription, it may not reimburse you afterwards. If you have already bought garments privately, talk to DVA on 1800 550 457 (option 1) before assuming anything can be claimed.

Is Compression Stockings Online a DVA-contracted RAP supplier?

No. Compression Stockings Online is not a DVA-contracted RAP supplier; DVA publishes the current contracted supplier list at dva.gov.au/RAPSuppliers, and your prescriber sends the D0992 to one of those suppliers. We are happy to supply garments outside RAP — extra pairs, different colours or a sooner pair — as a normal private order.