Otitic barotrauma
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;
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.
