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SoP Library › Sinus barotrauma

Statement of Principles

Sinus barotrauma — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Sinus barotrauma. DVA can only accept a claim for Sinus 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.

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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.

Sinus barotrauma

RH No. 23 of 2019 · BoP No. 24 of 201922 factors

Meaning of sinus barotrauma: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, sinus barotrauma means an injury to a paranasal sinus arising from inequalities in the barometric pressure between the surrounding atmosphere and the air within the sinus cavity.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 23 of 2019

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 sinus barotrauma or death from sinus barotrauma with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    experiencing a change in the ambient barometric pressure as specified, within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of sinus barotrauma;

    Note: change in the ambient barometric pressure as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    receiving mechanical ventilation involving a face mask within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of sinus barotrauma;

    Note: mechanical ventilation is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    being exposed to an explosive blast within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of sinus barotrauma;
  4. (4)
    having impaired drainage of the sinus within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of sinus barotrauma;

    Note: impaired drainage of the sinus is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    having allergic rhinitis or sinusitis within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of sinus barotrauma;
  6. (6)
    experiencing a change in the ambient barometric pressure as specified, within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of sinus barotrauma;

    Note: change in the ambient barometric pressure as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    receiving mechanical ventilation involving a face mask within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of sinus barotrauma;

    Note: mechanical ventilation is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    being exposed to an explosive blast within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of sinus barotrauma;
  9. (9)
    having impaired drainage of the sinus within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of sinus barotrauma;

    Note: impaired drainage of the sinus is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    having allergic rhinitis or sinusitis within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of sinus barotrauma;
  11. (11)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for sinus barotrauma;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(6) to 9(11) 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. 24 of 2019

11 factors

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

  1. (1)
    experiencing a change in the ambient barometric pressure as specified, within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of sinus barotrauma;

    Note: change in the ambient barometric pressure as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  2. (2)
    receiving mechanical ventilation involving a face mask within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of sinus barotrauma;

    Note: mechanical ventilation is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  3. (3)
    being exposed to an explosive blast within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of sinus barotrauma;
  4. (4)
    having impaired drainage of the sinus within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of sinus barotrauma;

    Note: impaired drainage of the sinus is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    having allergic rhinitis or sinusitis within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of sinus barotrauma;
  6. (6)
    experiencing a change in the ambient barometric pressure as specified, within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of sinus barotrauma;

    Note: change in the ambient barometric pressure as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    receiving mechanical ventilation involving a face mask within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of sinus barotrauma;

    Note: mechanical ventilation is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    being exposed to an explosive blast within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of sinus barotrauma;
  9. (9)
    having impaired drainage of the sinus within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of sinus barotrauma;

    Note: impaired drainage of the sinus is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    having allergic rhinitis or sinusitis within the 24 hours before the clinical worsening of sinus barotrauma;
  11. (11)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for sinus barotrauma;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(6) to 9(11) 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.

A VHC Diagnostic Assessment addresses each of these factors one by one against your service record and clinical history. See how a VHC DVA claim works, see all fees ($600 + GST per stage) or book an appointment.

Accepted — what is it worth?

A Statement of Principles decides one thing only: whether DVA accepts liability for sinus 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.

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Presumptive liability · from 1 July 2026

Sinus barotrauma may be accepted without proving the link to service

Sinus 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.

How presumptive liability works →

Part of DVA Claims — Ears, nose & throat — every Statement of Principles covering the ears, nose and throat.

Others in this area:

Allergic rhinitisAnosmiaBenign paroxysmal positional vertigoConductive hearing lossHyperacusisMeniere disease and meniere syndromeOtitic barotraumaOtitis externaSee all →
Dr Thomas Perkins, Veterans Health Centre

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 →