What can I claim secondary to tinnitus?
3 conditions in the Repatriation Medical Authority's Statements of Principles list tinnitus as a factor. If DVA has accepted your tinnitus, each of these has a documented pathway to a further claim.
At a glance
- Accepted conditionTinnitus
- Conditions it may open3
- 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 tinnitus, and another condition's SoP lists tinnitus 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 tinnitus 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.
Anxiety disorder
RH No. 100 of 2023 · BoP No. 101 of 2023
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (15): “having severe and permanent tinnitus at the time of the clinical onset of generalised anxiety disorder” [clinical onset] — factor (45): “having severe and permanent tinnitus at the time of the clinical worsening of anxiety disorder” [worsening]
This factor appears in the Reasonable Hypothesis instrument only, which applies to operational service.
Note: severe and permanent tinnitus is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Chronic insomnia disorder
RH No. 37 of 2019 · BoP No. 38 of 2019
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (9): “having tinnitus for at least the three months before the clinical onset of chronic insomnia disorder” [clinical onset] — factor (24): “having tinnitus for at least the three months before the clinical worsening of chronic insomnia disorder” [worsening]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (9): “having tinnitus for at least the three months before the clinical onset of chronic insomnia disorder” [clinical onset] — factor (21): “having tinnitus for at least the three months before the clinical worsening of chronic insomnia disorder” [worsening]
Depressive disorder
RH No. 11 of 2024 · BoP No. 12 of 2024
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (15): “having severe and permanent tinnitus at the time of the clinical onset of major depressive disorder, major depressive episode, persistent depressive disorder or premenstrual dysphoric disorder” [clinical onset] — factor (45): “having severe and permanent tinnitus at the time of the clinical worsening of depressive disorder” [worsening]
This factor appears in the Reasonable Hypothesis instrument only, which applies to operational service.
Note: severe and permanent tinnitus is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Other accepted conditions that also open anxiety disorder
If any of these is also on your file, it reaches some of the same conditions tinnitus does.
What DVA means by tinnitus
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.
Tinnitus, for the purposes of the Statement of Principles, for the purposes of this Statement of Principles, tinnitus: (a) means intermittent or constant perception of sound: (i) in one or both ears; or (ii) in or around the head; occurring without an external source of sound; and (b) must have persisted for at least three consecutive months.
Aggravation-only factors. In this instrument, subsections 9(40) to 9(78) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, tinnitus where it was already present before or during service. If service caused tinnitus outright, those factors are not available to you.
RH No. 84 of 2020 · BoP No. 85 of 2020 · 64 factors
What could support a claim for tinnitus?
The Statement of Principles for tinnitus names 11 other conditions among its own factors. If any of these is already accepted on your file, it may be the factor that carries a tinnitus claim — quoted here from the instrument.
Sensorineural hearing loss
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (4): “having sensorineural hearing loss or conductive hearing loss at the time of the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (43): “having sensorineural hearing loss or conductive hearing loss at the time of the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Osteoporosis
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (13): “having osteoporosis at the time of the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (51): “having osteoporosis at the time of the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Multiple sclerosis
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (15): “having multiple sclerosis at the time of the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (53): “having multiple sclerosis at the time of the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (19): “having concussion or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the three months before the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (57): “having concussion or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury within the three months before the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Temporomandibular disorder
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (22): “having temporomandibular disorder at the time of the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (60): “having temporomandibular disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Tension-type headache
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (24): “having migraine or tension-type headache before the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (62): “having migraine or tension-type headache before the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Otitic barotrauma
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]
Reasonable Hypothesis — 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]
Tuberculosis
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (32): “having tuberculosis involving the nasopharynx, meninges, temporal bone, middle ear or inner ear of the affected side before the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (70): “having tuberculosis involving the nasopharynx, meninges, temporal bone, middle ear or inner ear of the affected side before the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Hypothyroidism
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (38): “having hypothyroidism for at least the three months before the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (76): “having hypothyroidism for at least the three months before the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Depressive disorder
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (39): “having a clinically significant depressive disorder or a clinically significant anxiety disorder at the time of the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset]
Reasonable Hypothesis — factor (77): “having a clinically significant depressive disorder or a clinically significant anxiety disorder at the time of the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [worsening]
Migraine
Balance of Probabilities — factor (19): “having migraine with brainstem aura (basilar migraine) before the clinical onset of tinnitus” [clinical onset]
Balance of Probabilities — factor (50): “having migraine with brainstem aura (basilar migraine) before the clinical worsening of tinnitus” [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 →
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