Experiencing hearing loss can be one of the most traumatic and life-altering challenges anyone can face. It can affect your ability to work, socialise, and communicate with loved ones, often leading to frustration and isolation. For military personnel and veterans, developing hearing loss as a result of service can feel even more unjust.
While some injuries in the Armed Forces may be expected (given the frequent exposure to loud gunfire, explosions, and heavy machinery), the military still has a duty of care to protect those serving. In many cases, hearing loss or tinnitus isn’t just an unfortunate side effect of service: it’s the result of negligence.
Surprisingly, many veterans aren’t aware that they may be entitled to compensation. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help set the record straight and provide clear, supportive advice for those affected.
At Veterans For Veterans, we’re a team of ex-service personnel committed to helping fellow veterans access the compensation and recognition they deserve.
How Common Is Hearing Loss in the Military?
Hearing loss and tinnitus are among the most common conditions affecting veterans. According to the Veterans Hearing Foundation, around 300,000 ex-service personnel in the UK are currently living with some form of hearing damage.
Veterans under the age of 75 are 3.5 times more likely to experience hearing loss than those who haven’t served, highlighting just how prevalent the issue is across the Armed Forces.
Who Can Make A Military Hearing Loss Claim?
Military hearing loss claims are available to veterans and ex-forces personnel, but eligibility depends on a few important factors.
While many veterans have historically struggled to pursue claims, largely due to opposition from the Ministry of Defence, recent changes have improved access to these claims.
You may now be eligible to claim compensation if you were discharged after 1987 (this is purely down to the Crown Immunity). This means that anyone who has served or is currently serving in the British Army, Royal Navy, RAF, Special Forces, or Reserve Forces may be able to claim if they’ve developed hearing loss or tinnitus linked to their service.
How Does The Claiming Process Work?
When it comes to making a military hearing loss claim (or any military-related claim), there are two main routes available: the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) or a civil claim. Both options have their own advantages, and the most suitable route will depend on your circumstances.
The AFCS is a no-fault scheme, meaning you do not need to prove that the Ministry of Defence was negligent. This can make the process more straightforward and accessible. However, compensation awarded through the AFCS is often lower than what could be achieved through a civil claim. At Veterans For Veterans, we believe that compensation should fairly reflect the full extent of a veteran’s suffering, which may not always be the case with AFCS awards.
A civil claim requires more evidence and legal support. To succeed, you must prove that your military service caused your hearing loss or tinnitus, that the Ministry of Defence owed you a duty of care, and that this duty was breached. While civil claims can take longer and involve more work, they often result in significantly higher compensation that better reflects the long-term impact of the condition.
What Evidence Is Needed to Support The Claim?
While the specific documentation may vary depending on your individual experience, most successful claims typically include the following:
- Medical Evidence: This includes any records of hearing tests, diagnoses, GP or hospital visits, audiology assessments, or referrals to specialists. The more detailed your medical history relating to hearing loss or tinnitus, the better.
- Service Records: These help demonstrate the nature of your duties and potential noise exposure. This could involve job roles, deployments, training routines, and whether hearing protection was provided or used and, if so, whether it was fit for purpose.
- Statements from Colleagues or Witnesses: Testimonials from fellow veterans or colleagues who can confirm your exposure to excessive noise or lack of protective measures can significantly strengthen your claim.
- Photographic or Video Evidence: If available, any visual media showing the environments you worked in (such as training exercises, weapon usage, or equipment in operation) can help illustrate the noisy conditions that may have contributed to your hearing loss.
Common Causes of Military Hearing Loss
Hearing loss in the Armed Forces is typically the result of repeated and prolonged exposure to loud noise during service. While it can’t necessarily be helped in combat, it can be prevented during training exercises, manufacturing and maintenance. Common causes include gunfire, explosives, aircraft engines, armoured vehicles, and heavy machinery, whether during combat, training exercises, or day-to-day duties.
One-off incidents, such as IED blasts or sudden exposure to intense noise without adequate protection, can also lead to immediate and permanent damage. Over time, even regular exposure to lower-level noise can have a cumulative effect, especially when hearing protection is poor, inadequate, or not enforced.
Many veterans aren’t aware that their hearing issues may be directly linked to their service until years later, when symptoms like tinnitus or reduced hearing begin to significantly affect their daily lives.
Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For
Hearing loss and related conditions like tinnitus often develop gradually, making them easy to overlook at first. Common signs include:
- Ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds in the ears (tinnitus)
- Difficulty hearing speech, especially in noisy environments
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- Needing to increase the volume on the TV or phone
- Muffled or distorted hearing
- Struggling to follow conversations, especially in groups
Time Limits for Making a Military Hearing Loss Claim
For civil claims, you typically have three years to act starting from when you first became aware of your hearing loss and its link to your service.
For AFCS claims, the time limit is usually seven years from the date of injury or discharge. Acting early gives you the best chance of a successful outcome.
How Veterans For Veterans Can Help
At Veterans for Veterans, we are a team of ex-armed forces personnel who are dedicated to ensuring veterans’ voices are heard and their suffering is addressed. We help ex-armed forces personnel to make claims for hearing loss as well as other forms of military claims. We have an incredibly high success rate and have loads of experience when it comes to fighting your corner. So, if you are a veteran who may need to make a claim, why not contact us today?