Combat veteran Jesse Bird pleaded with the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) to urgently help him, warning he was suicidal just days before his death, according to official records.

But the Department did not budge and in June, after losing his 18-month battle for compensation for war-related injuries, Jesse took his own life.

Disturbingly, money from Veterans' Affairs finally came through after his death and his parents have asked the department for an explanation.

His devastated family is campaigning for an urgent overhaul to how DVA handles compensation claims to prevent more veteran suicides.

His mother, Karen Bird, told 7.30 her son's file shows his concerns were not taken seriously.

"It triggers a really emotional response, to realise my boy was in so much pain," Ms Bird said.

"He obviously felt that he couldn't contact us for more money and he was really just pushed into the corner and he didn't see any other way out."

'I need your help, please'

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Private Jesse Bird was under severe financial stress after leaving the Army because he was unable to work due to war-related injuries.

Those injuries included post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, alcohol abuse and a shoulder condition.

The 32-year-old's family was paying the rent for his Melbourne apartment while he lobbied DVA for financial support.

Despite repeated requests, dating back to August 2016, Jesse wasn't receiving any incapacity payments.

DVA records obtained exclusively by 7.30 show the Afghan war veteran made an official complaint about his poor treatment.

A few weeks before the complaint, Bird's claim for permanent impairment was rejected because his condition wasn't deemed severe and he was asked to wait to be reviewed again in six months.

But Jesse couldn't wait.

On June 22, he told the DVA in his complaint:

"I need real help, I have submitted all required paperwork to receive incapacity payments. "The person who has been assigned to my case just doesn't care and cannot wait to get off the phone to me. "I have come close to becoming another suicide statistic. "I've done my time and now I need your help, please."

The Department's records say a staff member called Jesse the next day to explain the delay and they then lodged an internal request to have his request for financial support treated as a high priority.

But DVA wasn't treating it as a priority. It had already received urgent emails in March and again in June by a representative from Geelong RSL, who had been assisting Jesse.

"Since ceasing employment on 23 March, 2016, resulting from suffering chronic psychiatric conditions, his parents have been supporting him financially … could you please evaluate this claim urgently," the RSL representative wrote.

DVA paid money after his death

Karen and John Bird at a memorial for Jesse. ( ABC News: Michael Atkin )

Jesse's step-father, John Bird, said his official file confirmed the family's worst fears.

"We just couldn't believe that he had pleaded for help like he did because, you know, for Jesse to plead for help, and he mentioned the suicide aspect, Jesse didn't do that," Mr Bird said.

"Basically, they [DVA] didn't do anything about it."

Just four days after a DVA staff member called Jesse, he dressed in his army jumper, displayed his Veterans' Affairs paperwork prominently around his apartment and ended his life.

He had only $5.20 in his bank account.

Incredibly, after Jesse's death, DVA drafted a letter stating he was entitled to incapacity payments, repeatedly tried to call him and even made an initial payment to the deceased soldier's bank account.

His official complaint form also said his issue was successfully resolved.

This was all done even after the family claims the department was notified of his death.

"All of the family's reaction was, 'This was a cover up, they've done this to cover themselves'," Mr Bird said.

"I think if someone has done that [after his death] they should be disciplined and, let's face it, they shouldn't be dealing with affected veterans, if that's their modus operandi."

Review into case underway

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Dan Tehan. ( ABC News: Jed Cooper )

In a meeting with Veterans' Affairs Minister Dan Tehan and his department last week, the Bird family pushed for answers about what had gone wrong.

"It appeared to us that they couldn't believe that we'd caught on so quickly to the anomalies in their file," Mr Bird said.

"They weren't sure of the dates and they weren't even sure of the amount that they'd transferred [to Jesse]."

Ms Bird said: "Mr Tehan had a very troubled look on his face and he said it seems that Jesse has been poorly handled by DVA."

Mr Tehan has ordered an official review of Jesse's case, which is currently underway.

In a statement, the Minister told 7.30: