Hearing damage whilst serving in the forces: What claimants need to know
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Working in the armed forces often exposes you to loud noises, such as gunfire, explosions and aircraft engines, which can result in hearing damage.
In the past, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has opposed many claims made by veterans experiencing hearing damage - arguing that either other sources of noise were to blame, individuals should have worn protection or that they’ve claimed too late.
However, in a recent landmark development, the MoD has accepted that armed forces personnel who have been exposed to excessive noise in the military since 1987 could be entitled to compensation.
Hearing damage can manifest itself in a number of ways, with the most common being hearing loss. This is also known as Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and it can affect one or both ears, either temporarily or permanently. Symptoms include hearing muffled sounds, having trouble hearing high-pitched sounds and having trouble understanding conversations in noisy environments.
Tinnitus is a condition commonly described as a ringing or buzzing sound that only the person with tinnitus can hear. If you suffer with this, you might hear the sounds in one or both ears, or in your head, and they may come and go.
Another common symptom of hearing damage is hyperacusis. People who suffer with hyperacusis often find ordinary noises too loud and it can cause pain and discomfort.
Usually, there is a three year limit to bring a claim for injury as a result of negligence whilst serving in the military. However, in this case, the MoD has accepted that it had a duty of care to protect personnel and has abandoned arguments that claims for compensation should have been brought sooner.
Given this development, even if the cause of your hearing loss occurred over three years ago, you may still be entitled to claim compensation.
According to the BBC, the MoD paid £72 million in compensation for military hearing loss between 2012 and 2020.
It is believed that there are still thousands of people who have suffered hearing damage whilst in the armed forces who are yet to seek compensation - with up to 10,000 currently making claims due to the new court agreement.
Have you suffered hearing loss whilst serving in the forces since 1987? If so, please contact our specialist military lawyers who can advise you further, as you may be entitled to compensation.
Contact Nick to discuss this further.
