Military Cold Injury Claims

Veterans for Veterans is a trading style of One Claims Management Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. Part of our team is made up of former members of the Armed Forces, bringing first-hand experience of military service and an understanding of the issues veterans can face.

We help veterans and serving personnel understand the claims process and, where appropriate, connect them with our panel of law firms.

Your claim remains confidential, safeguarding your privacy. If the claim does proceed to litigation then the result of this is public however you would always be notified before this happens. If you’re currently employed, it would be unlawful for your employer to penalise you for pursuing a claim against your employer.

Making a claim should not, in itself, prevent you from getting a job in the future. However, if a role has specific hearing standards or requires you to pass a hearing test, your ability to meet those requirements will depend on your individual hearing.

If you are still serving, you should also be aware that the MOD may become aware of your hearing loss claim because your military medical records may need to be requested as part of the process. This does not necessarily mean that the claim will be notified to or flagged within your individual unit or regiment.

Typically, between 2 – 3 years, however, the complexity of the case will influence this.

The average payout of NFCI cases can vary dramatically however the cases which have been settled and become public record are six figure settlements.

We estimate these cases may take 2-3 years to resolve, though settlement out of court could potentially shorten this timeframe.

Yes. As long as part of your service in the UK Armed Forces was after May 1987, we may be able to help regardless of where you live now. However, we can only support claims where the necessary testing is available in your location. Contact us for more information about testing availability where you live.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is permanent hearing damage caused by exposure to loud noise, often without proper protection. In the military, this can result from gunfire, explosions, or loud machinery. Symptoms include muffled hearing, difficulty understanding speech, or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).

This refers to tissue damage from prolonged exposure to cold, wet conditions above freezing (typically 0–15 °C). It’s different from frostbite (which occurs below 0 °C) and includes conditions like trench foot. Common among military personnel, symptoms include numbness, tingling, pain, swelling, and long-term sensitivity to cold. It can lead to chronic issues if untreated.

Apart from your legal representatives and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), your claim remains confidential unless you have to go to court, then this would become public record however most claims do settle out of court.

No, making a claim will not affect military compensation schemes such as the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) or a War Pension. If you receive means-tested benefits, any compensation awarded may be taken into account when assessing your entitlement. A personal injury trust may help in certain circumstances and we recommend obtaining independent financial advice.

All claims are covered under a no-win-no-fee agreement, which is covered by ATE insurance. This ensures that all legal costs are covered in the event of an unsuccessful claim. Unless you are materially deceptive or misleading during the process, you will not be liable for any costs associated with the legal proceedings. Legal costs are recovered from your award at the conclusion of your case, at a rate of 30% of the total award plus an insurance premium.

Crown Immunity protects the Ministry of Defence from liability for injuries sustained by servicemen and women before 1987.

All claims with our panel of law firms are handled under a no-win-no-fee agreement, covered by an ATE policy where appropriate. In the event of an unsuccessful outcome, the insurance policy will cover all fees but specific terms may apply depending on law firm. If your case is successful, a success fee of up to 30% of your damages (including VAT) and the insurance policy premium will be deducted from your final amount. In some cases, your law firm may recommend After the Event (ATE) insurance. This is a policy designed to protect you from certain legal costs and expenses if the claim does not succeed. ATE insurance is generally arranged on a deferred basis, meaning there is nothing to pay upfront and the premium is only payable if the claim is successful. Where applicable, the insurance premium is charged in addition to the success fee referred to above and will be deducted from compensation recovered at the conclusion of a successful claim. The cost of any ATE insurance policy will vary depending on the circumstances of the claim, and full details will be provided by the law firm before any agreement is entered into.

Yes, you are still eligible to pursue a civil claim irrespective of previous outcomes regarding War Pension or AFCS.

Your case will be evaluated individually based on its specific merits and the availability of a local audiology test. If your case is strong and there are no issues in scheduling a test in your area, your legal representatives will arrange a test for you.

In order to pursue a claim for Hearing Loss, it is necessary that there was at least some period of your service that occurred after 1987. For instance, if you enlisted in 1986 and concluded your service in 1995, more than half of your service tenure would fall after 1987. In these circumstances, you could pursue a claim for your period of exposure from 1987 to 1995.

The Royal British Legion recommends consulting a solicitor to make a civil claim for negligence. Our team of veterans will discuss your circumstances with you and explain the claims process. If you wish to proceed, we can introduce you to our partner law firm, which will assess your case and advise whether a claim can be pursued.

The core eligibility criteria are that you served in the UK Armed Forces after May 1987, completed basic training, and have hearing loss that can be evidenced by a hearing test.

No. You can still be in active service or a reserve.

Every hearing loss claim is assessed on its own facts, so there is no single set of circumstances that guarantees a successful outcome. Instead, the strength of a claim is usually determined by a combination of factors, including the nature and duration of the individual’s exposure to noise, whether suitable hearing protection was provided and consistently used, and whether proper instruction was given on how that protection should be worn. Medical evidence also plays an important role, particularly where hearing test results support both the existence of an injury and its likely cause. In addition, the availability of supporting records and documentation from the Ministry of Defence can help establish the relevant circumstances of exposure. Ultimately, each claim is considered on its own merits, with the overall outcome depending on the weight of the evidence available across all of these areas.

It is important to submit your enquiry with us as soon as you become aware of your eligibility to claim.

We estimate these cases may take 2-3 years to resolve, though settlement out of court could potentially shorten this timeframe.

You have the right to cancel your agreement with the law firm within the 14-day cooling off period and, if you do so, you will not usually incur any charges. However, if you choose to cancel after this period has expired, the law firm may be entitled to charge for the work already carried out on your case. Any such charges would be calculated in accordance with the hourly rates and terms set out in the Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) provided by the firm at the outset of your claim. In addition, costs may be incurred if a claimant fails to cooperate with reasonable requests during the claims process or provides information that is false, misleading, or materially inaccurate. Full details of any circumstances in which charges may apply will be explained by the law firm before you decide whether to proceed.