What can I claim secondary to sensorineural hearing loss?
2 conditions in the Repatriation Medical Authority's Statements of Principles list sensorineural hearing loss as a factor. If DVA has accepted your sensorineural hearing loss, each of these has a documented pathway to a further claim.
At a glance
- Accepted conditionSensorineural hearing loss
- Conditions it may open2
- 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 sensorineural hearing loss, and another condition's SoP lists sensorineural hearing loss 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 sensorineural hearing loss 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.
Hyperacusis
RH No. 27 of 2021 · BoP No. 28 of 2021
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (3): “having sensorineural hearing loss at the time of the clinical onset of hyperacusis” [clinical onset] — factor (21): “having sensorineural hearing loss at the time of the clinical worsening of hyperacusis” [worsening]
This factor appears in the Reasonable Hypothesis instrument only, which applies to operational service.
Tinnitus
RH No. 84 of 2020 · BoP No. 85 of 2020
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (4): “having sensorineural hearing loss or conductive hearing loss at the time of the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset] — factor (43): “having sensorineural hearing loss or conductive hearing loss at the time of the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (4): “having sensorineural hearing loss or conductive hearing loss at the time of the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset] — factor (36): “having sensorineural hearing loss or conductive hearing loss at the time of the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Other accepted conditions that also open hyperacusis
If any of these is also on your file, it reaches some of the same conditions sensorineural hearing loss does.
What DVA means by sensorineural hearing loss
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.
Sensorineural hearing loss, for the purposes of the Statement of Principles, for the purposes of this Statement of Principles, sensorineural hearing loss: (a) means acquired hearing loss due to a defect in the cochlea or auditory nerve, with a permanent shift to a hearing threshold level of 25 decibels (dB) or more, at 500, 1 000, 1 500, 2 000, 3 000, 4 000 or 6 000 hertz (Hz); and (b) excludes: (i) congenital deafness; and (ii) hearing loss due to Meniere's disease.
Aggravation-only factors. In this instrument, subsections 9(36) to 9(71) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, sensorineural hearing loss where it was already present before or during service. If service caused sensorineural hearing loss outright, those factors are not available to you.
RH No. 98 of 2019 · BoP No. 99 of 2019 · 57 factors
What could support a claim for sensorineural hearing loss?
The Statement of Principles for sensorineural hearing loss names 7 other conditions among its own factors. If any of these is already accepted on your file, it may be the factor that carries a sensorineural hearing loss claim — quoted here from the instrument.
Otitic barotrauma
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]
Reasonable Hypothesis — 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]
Tuberculosis
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (15): “having tuberculosis of the meninges, middle ear or inner ear of the affected side, before the clinical onset of sensorineural hearing loss” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (50): “having tuberculosis of the meninges, middle ear or inner ear of the affected side, before the clinical worsening of sensorineural hearing loss” [worsening]
Osteoporosis
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (18): “having osteoporosis at the time of the clinical onset of sensorineural hearing loss; Compilation No. 1 Compilation date: 30/05/2022 Authorised Version F2022C00587 registered 31/05/2022” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (53): “having osteoporosis at the time of the clinical worsening of sensorineural hearing loss” [worsening]
Multiple sclerosis
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (20): “having multiple sclerosis at the time of the clinical onset of sensorineural hearing loss” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (55): “having multiple sclerosis at the time of the clinical worsening of sensorineural hearing loss; Compilation No. 1 Compilation date: 30/05/2022 Authorised Version F2022C00587 registered 31/05/2022” [worsening]
Diabetes mellitus
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (21): “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of sensorineural hearing loss” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (56): “having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical worsening of sensorineural hearing loss” [worsening]
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (26): “having moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the three months before the clinical onset of sensorineural hearing loss” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (61): “having moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the three months before the clinical worsening of sensorineural hearing loss” [worsening]
Hypertension
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (35): “having hypertension at the time of the clinical onset of sensorineural hearing loss” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (70): “having hypertension at the time of the clinical worsening of sensorineural hearing loss” [worsening]
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 →
Sensorineural hearing loss accepted?
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