Dear Accident Compensation Corporation,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information regarding ACC’s handling of claims related to New Zealand veterans’ service-related injuries, with emphasis on issues identified in the Paterson Report (2018), Acclaim Otago Report (2015), Dean Review (2016), and the Veterans’ Advisory Board Interim Report (2019):

1. Veteran Claim Statistics (2020–2025):
• Annual number of claims submitted by or on behalf of NZDF veterans (current or former) for service-related injuries or conditions.
• Breakdown by approval and denial rates, including common reasons for denials (e.g., insufficient evidence, non-qualifying under Scheme Two of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014).

2. Impact of ACC Framework on Veterans (Paterson Report Implementation):
• Any internal assessments, policy updates, or cost analyses (2023–2025) addressing the influence of ACC’s no-fault framework on Scheme Two entitlements, as highlighted in Recommendation 63 of the Paterson Report (e.g., proposals to address inequities for post-1974 veterans).
• Estimated number of veteran claims affected by eligibility barriers or overlaps with Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand (VANZ).

3. Coordination with VANZ and Dispute Resolution:
• Number of veteran claims involving referrals or transfers to/from VANZ (2023–2025), including rates of disputes or appeals.
• Details of current data-sharing agreements, protocols, or identified gaps with VANZ, including any improvements made in response to the 2019 Veterans’ Advisory Board Report or Dean Review recommendations (e.g., expert selection, alternative resolution options).

Please provide data in electronic format (e.g., Excel or CSV) where possible, with sensitive personal information redacted. If any part is too broad, I am willing to refine it.

This request supports community advocacy for veterans experiencing delays, denials, and unmet needs in health and compensation due to systemic overlaps and resource constraints.

Kind regards,
Spencer Jones