What can I claim secondary to otitic barotrauma?
5 conditions in the Repatriation Medical Authority's Statements of Principles list otitic barotrauma as a factor. If DVA has accepted your otitic barotrauma, each of these has a documented pathway to a further claim.
At a glance
- Accepted conditionOtitic barotrauma
- Conditions it may open5
- SourceRMA SoPs
- Chart Review$600 + GST
How a secondary claim works
Some Statement of Principles factors are not about service at all — they name another condition. Where DVA has already accepted your otitic barotrauma, and another condition's SoP lists otitic barotrauma as a factor, that part of the next claim is already established on your file. How a secondary claim works, in full →
Conditions that list otitic barotrauma as a factor
Quoted from the instrument. A pathway existing is not the same as a claim succeeding — each factor carries thresholds your record has to satisfy.
Conductive hearing loss
RH No. 81 of 2019 · BoP No. 82 of 2019
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (4): “having an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear, within the seven days before the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss” [clinical onset] — factor (17): “having an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear, within the seven days before the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (3): “having an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear, within the seven days before the clinical onset of conductive hearing loss” [clinical onset] — factor (15): “having an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear, within the seven days before the clinical worsening of conductive hearing loss” [worsening]
Hyperacusis
RH No. 27 of 2021 · BoP No. 28 of 2021
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (5): “having an episode of otitic barotrauma within the 30 days before the clinical onset of hyperacusis” [clinical onset] — factor (23): “having an episode of otitic barotrauma within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of hyperacusis” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (4): “having an episode of otitic barotrauma within the 30 days before the clinical onset of hyperacusis” [clinical onset] — factor (19): “having an episode of otitic barotrauma within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of hyperacusis” [worsening]
Note: Otitic barotrauma is also known as otic barotrauma.
Otitis media
RH No. 62 of 2022 · BoP No. 63 of 2022
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (8): “having an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear within the 7 days before the clinical onset of otitis media” [clinical onset] — factor (23): “having an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear within the 7 days before the clinical worsening of otitis media” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (8): “having an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear within the 7 days before the clinical onset of otitis media” [clinical onset] — factor (20): “having an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear within the 7 days before the clinical worsening of otitis media” [worsening]
Note: Otitic barotrauma is also known as otic barotrauma.
Sensorineural hearing loss
RH No. 98 of 2019 · BoP No. 99 of 2019
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (5): “having: (a) an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear; or (b) decompression sickness; within the 30 days before the clinical onset of sensorineural hearing loss” [clinical onset] — factor (40): “having: (a) an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear; or (b) decompression sickness; within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of sensorineural hearing loss” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (5): “having: (a) an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear; or (b) decompression sickness; within the 30 days before the clinical onset of sensorineural hearing loss” [clinical onset] — factor (33): “having: (a) an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear; or (b) decompression sickness; within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of sensorineural hearing loss” [worsening]
Tinnitus
RH No. 84 of 2020 · BoP No. 85 of 2020
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (26): “having: (a) an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear; or (b) cerebral arterial gas embolism; or (c) decompression sickness; within the 30 days before the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset] — factor (64): “having: (a) an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear; or (b) cerebral arterial gas embolism; or (c) decompression sickness; within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (21): “having: (a) an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear; or (b) cerebral arterial gas embolism; or (c) decompression sickness; within the 30 days before the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset] — factor (52): “having: (a) an episode of otitic barotrauma involving the affected ear; or (b) cerebral arterial gas embolism; or (c) decompression sickness; within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Note: Otitic barotrauma is also known as otic barotrauma.
Other accepted conditions that also open conductive hearing loss
If any of these is also on your file, it reaches some of the same conditions otitic barotrauma does.
What DVA means by otitic barotrauma
A claim is tested against the definition first. If the diagnosis on your file does not meet this wording, the factors below never get reached — so it is worth checking that what your doctor wrote matches what the instrument requires.
Otitic barotrauma, for the purposes of the Statement of Principles, for the purposes of this Statement of Principles, otitic barotrauma means an injury to the middle or inner ear arising from inequalities in the barometric pressure between the surrounding atmosphere and the air within the middle ear space.
Aggravation-only factors. In this instrument, subsections 9(4) to 9(7) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, otitic barotrauma where it was already present before or during service. If service caused otitic barotrauma outright, those factors are not available to you.
RH No. 86 of 2020 · BoP No. 87 of 2020 · 7 factors
Reviewed by Dr Thomas Perkins
Founding doctor, Veterans Health Centre · former RAAF aviation medical officer · 13 years working exclusively with ADF members and veterans. Full profile →
Otitic barotrauma accepted?
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