Have you been a member of the armed forces after 1997?

In 1987, the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) immunity from prosecution was lifted, allowing those in the armed forces to lodge compensation claims for injury suffered during their time working for them – even if these individuals had previously been denied compensation from the AFCS or WPS (Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, or War Pension Scheme, respectively).

Has your hearing been affected by your employment in the armed forces?

Loss of hearing can potentially cause ongoing physical, psychological, social and financial distress – and have a significant impact on your day-to-day quality of life. Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) can be caused by a single instance or repeated exposure to high noise levels (above 85 decibels). Sounds such as explosions or the use of various weaponry fall into this category; but so do things like aircraft and other vehicle noise – as well as miscellaneous loud noises experienced under MoD employment, even if this is not necessarily gunfire and the like heard under active front line duty. NIHL can end military careers, and have long-lasting effects in life outside of the armed forces.

The MoD are legally required to comply with the Noise at Work Regulations 1989, and the Control of Noise at Work Regulations Act 2005 – which means that certain measures should be in place to reduce the level of noise, or provide prevention, protection or relief from noise in the course of your employment. Failure to protect people from such a damaging level of noise may mean that the MoD are liable for the hearing loss, and you may be able to claim compensation.

Have you been diagnosed with a hearing issue in the last 3 years?

According to a Royal British Legion survey, 11% of surveyed veterans have hearing problems, and 6% had tinnitus. From this, it is estimated to roughly equate to 300,000 ex-armed forces personnel in the UK suffering from conditions like NIHL and tinnitus. As such, veterans under the age of 75 are about 3.5x more likely to report hearing problems than the rest of the population in the same age bracket.

If your hearing problems are due to exposure to excessive noise while in service, the MoD may be found responsible and you might be entitled to compensation for the injury.

Can I bring a claim for military hearing loss?

Irvings Law are experienced in handling personal injury claims and are committed to securing financial compensation for victims of hearing loss.

If you or someone you know has suffered NIHL or tinnitus in the armed forces, please get in touch with one of our specialist solicitors today for a no obligation and confidential chat on 0151 475 1999 or Info@IrvingsLaw.com to see how we can help you.

We act on a ‘no win no fee’ basis. If your claim is successful, the costs will be paid by the Defendant. If the claim is not successful, the costs will be written off and you do not have to pay a penny.