Non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) is a common condition among Armed Forces personnel, often resulting from exposure to cold and wet conditions during training exercises. A key factor is the inadequate provision of appropriate protective gear.
If the following applies to you and your military service, we could help you claim compensation for your injuries.
You must have served in a branch of the United Kingdom Armed Forces to be eligible to claim. Please share this page with other service members who you feel could benefit from our support.
You must have served a proportion of your role in the Military after 1987 to be eligible to claim. Please share this page with other service members who you feel could benefit from our support.
VFV is a dedicated team of seasoned Veterans from every branch of the military, committed to helping fellow Veterans secure the compensation they deserve for service-related injuries.
The Royal Irish Regiment
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The Royal Irish Regiment
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The Royal Irish Regiment
The Royal Anglian Regiment
The Royal Logistics Corps
Make Your Claim In Six Simple Steps
Complete our online form and one of our experienced veterans will call you back to discuss the details of your claim.
Your legal representatives will prepare a detailed statement of your injuries and the losses you have incurred due to the negligence of the responsible party.
Your legal representatives will investigate your claim and gather evidence to verify your injuries. This will include calling for your employment and medical records and you attending a medical examination to support your hearing loss claim.
There is no need to worry about the medical examination; this process is quick and typically takes less than an hour and your legal representatives will endeavour to arrange a medical examination close to your location.
Your legal representatives will draft and send a letter of claim to the responsible party, detailing your claim and explaining why they are at fault for your injuries.
Your legal representatives will prepare a detailed statement of your injuries and the losses you have incurred due to the negligence of the responsible party.
All evidence will be presented to the responsible party, inviting them to propose a settlement figure. Your legal team will keep you informed throughout the process. If you are not satisfied with the proposed settlement, and if your legal team advise that you are entitled to more, they will initiate court proceedings on your behalf.
If you have a question we’ve not covered below, give our team a call - they’ll be delighted to talk to you.
We are a collective of British Armed Forces veterans who share a common journey of service and sacrifice. Over time, we’ve observed the challenges and complexities veterans face in navigating the compensation process for injuries sustained during their service. Frustrated by the lack of clarity and support, we’ve banded together to offer guidance and assistance.
Our mission is twofold: to support fellow veterans in their pursuit of rightful compensation and to collaborate with law firms to streamline their practices for veteran clients. Through our experience and expertise, we provide invaluable insights to law firms, ensuring that their processes are not only comprehensible but also tailored to the unique needs of veterans.
We are selective in our partnerships, choosing to collaborate only with firms that demonstrate a genuine commitment to improving their services for veterans.
Your claim remains confidential, safeguarding your privacy unless you opt for public disclosure. If you’re currently employed, it would be unlawful for your employer to penalise you for pursuing a claim against your employer. However, it’s important to note that in certain cases, such as when court proceedings are initiated, your claim might become public knowledge.
If you possess the physical capability to fulfil the requirements of the job, pursuing a claim shouldn’t impede your prospects for future employment.
We cannot assure you of any specific entitlement amount. Nevertheless, historically, numerous cases have resulted in settlements exceeding £10,000, with some considerably higher. The final settlement largely hinges on the unique circumstances of each individual case, as no two cases are identical.
The 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. However, it’s important to acknowledge that court proceedings might become public if pursued.
Crown Immunity protects the Ministry of Defence from liability for injuries sustained by servicemen and women before 1987. However, the case of Smith v Ministry of Defence altered the situation regarding combat immunity. The court ruled that the MoD does not have an automatic defence against claims for injuries sustained in combat, contrary to their previous stance, allowing claims to be brought on behalf of those injured in such circumstances, if those injuries occurred after 1987.
The legal firms that we recommend operate on Conditional Fee Agreements, commonly known as no-win, no-fee, a policy of insurance is also taken out in your name to ensure that your case is protected by insurance.
In the event of an unsuccessful outcome, the insurance policy will cover all fees.
If your case is successful, the majority of your legal costs will be paid by the MoD. A success fee of 25% of your damages (including VAT) and the insurance policy premium will also be deducted from your final amount.
Indeed, irrespective of previous outcomes regarding War Pension or Armed Forces Independence Payments, you are still eligible to pursue this civil claim for NFCI.
Your case will be evaluated individually based on its specific merits, something your legal team will be able to advise you on.
Every case is unique, and while a medical discharge shouldn’t hinder your ability to claim, the circumstances surrounding your discharge could impact the duration or amount of your claim. If you wish to explore the possibility of a claim, despite a medical discharge, start your claim today and one of our preferred law firms can provide you with advice on your specific circumstances.
In order to pursue a claim for cold injuries, 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. More details can be found here: Royal British Legion Support. This is where we come in. Our specialist team of veterans will discuss your claim with you to ensure your eligibility and help you proceed quickly and efficiently, we will then recommend a specialist firm of solicitors that we feel have the appropriate skills and experience to represent you in your claim.
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’s no need for apprehension; with a comprehensive and factual claim, the outcome should be satisfactory for all parties involved.
Cases have experienced unexpected delays, primarily due to a surge in volume compounded by the post-Covid capacity limitations of courts in England and Wales. While the backlog has somewhat diminished, it will still take considerable time for operations to normalise fully. Additionally, many cases are being managed through group action, necessitating specific court procedures. While this temporarily affects the pace of other cases, it’s anticipated that within the next year, this approach will significantly expedite the process. We estimate these cases may take 2-3 years to resolve, though settlement out of court could potentially shorten this timeframe.
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Submit your contact information through our form below and one of our experienced team of Veterans will call you back to discuss your claim, in full confidence.
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