Noise Induced Hearing Loss 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.

Compensation, where awarded, will depend on the circumstances of the claim, including the severity of any injury, the impact on daily life, medical evidence and any financial losses. We cannot provide an estimate without assessing the specific facts of the case.

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

The average payout of NFCI cases can vary dramatically and will depend on the circumstances of the claim, including the severity of any injury, the impact on daily life, medical evidence and any financial losses. We cannot provide an estimate without assessing the specific facts of the case.

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).

Our partner law firm will request your authorisation to obtain your employment records from HMRC. This step is solely intended to verify your work history, ensuring alignment with the dates provided in your claim.

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.

Yes. Being medically discharged should not, in itself, affect your ability to make a claim. The circumstances of your service, hearing loss and discharge may still be relevant when the law firm assesses your case.

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.

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

If your case advances to litigation, there may be a requirement for a court appearance. In such instances, your legal representative will accompany you every step of the way. There is no need to be concerned. If you provide accurate and complete information, your claim can be assessed on its individual merits.

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

Yes. You will need to attend at least one hearing test as part of the claims process. A second hearing test may also be arranged by the law firm at a later stage. Appointments are usually arranged locally, and you would not normally be expected to travel more than around one hour from your home.

You will also have an appointment with an ENT consultant. This is a normal part of the process when pursuing a hearing loss claim and will usually be a remote appointment.