Otitic barotrauma

Otitic barotrauma — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Otitic barotrauma. DVA can only accept a claim for Otitic barotrauma if at least one of these factors is met and connected to your service. Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) applies to operational service; Balance of Probabilities (BoP) applies to peacetime service.

Source: Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles as held by the Veterans Health Centre. SoPs are amended and replaced regularly; always confirm the current instrument at rma.gov.au before relying on it.

RH No. 86 of 2020 · BoP No. 87 of 202014 factors

Meaning of otitic barotrauma: 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.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 86 of 2020

At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting otitic barotrauma or death from otitic barotrauma with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

(1)
experiencing a change in ambient barometric pressure as specified within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of otitic barotrauma;
Note: change in ambient barometric pressure as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(2)
being exposed to blast pressure from an explosion or lightning strike within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of otitic barotrauma;
(3)
receiving mechanical ventilation involving a face mask within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of otitic barotrauma;
Note: mechanical ventilation is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(4)
experiencing a change in ambient barometric pressure as specified within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of otitic barotrauma;
Note: change in ambient barometric pressure as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(5)
being exposed to blast pressure from an explosion or lightning strike within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of otitic barotrauma;
(6)
receiving mechanical ventilation involving a face mask within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of otitic barotrauma;
Note: mechanical ventilation is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(7)
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for otitic barotrauma;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(4) to 9(7) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 87 of 2020

7 factors

At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, otitic barotrauma or death from otitic barotrauma is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

(1)
experiencing a change in ambient barometric pressure as specified within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of otitic barotrauma;
Note: change in ambient barometric pressure as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(2)
being exposed to blast pressure from an explosion or lightning strike within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of otitic barotrauma;
(3)
receiving mechanical ventilation involving a face mask within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of otitic barotrauma;
Note: mechanical ventilation is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(4)
experiencing a change in ambient barometric pressure as specified within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of otitic barotrauma;
Note: change in ambient barometric pressure as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(5)
being exposed to blast pressure from an explosion or lightning strike within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of otitic barotrauma;
(6)
receiving mechanical ventilation involving a face mask within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of otitic barotrauma;
Note: mechanical ventilation is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
(7)
inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for otitic barotrauma;

Accepted — what is it worth?

A Statement of Principles decides one thing only: whether DVA accepts liability for otitic barotrauma. It says nothing about how much you are paid. Compensation is worked out separately, from impairment points under the GARP — so a condition can be accepted and still rate few points, or rate more than you expect once it is combined with everything else on your file.

Otitic barotrauma may be accepted without proving the link to service

Otitic barotrauma is listed in Part 2 of the determination as attributable to defence service, provided the criteria below are met.

Qualifying service: in special forces, including: (i) Special Air Service Regiment; and (ii) Commandos; and (iii) Special Operations Engineer Regiment; or as an engineer with a role involving the disposal/use of explosive ordinance; or as a clearance/ships’ diver; or as a submariner; or as a pilot or aircrew; or as aeromedical evacuation personnel; or as underwater medicine medical personnel (officer or medic).
Onset: during the qualifying service.

A diagnosis is still required, and the presumption may not apply where there is clear evidence of a cause other than service. "Onset" means when an injury was sustained, or when all the signs and symptoms of a disease were first present — not the date of diagnosis. Applies to claims made on or after 1 July 2026.