Military Hearing Loss Claims
Has your hearing been damaged as a result of military service?
Being exposed to prolonged or excessive noise during military training and operations can lead to tinnitus or hearing loss. For sufferers, these conditions can have a huge impact on their careers and quality of life. If you’ve been affected, Complex Law can help you secure the compensation you deserve.
The Facts
What is a military hearing loss claim?
A military hearing loss claim is a type of personal injury claim made against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for hearing damage sustained during service. The most common claims include those for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus. At Complex Law, we handle claims from veteran and serving members of all branches of the Armed Forces.
The law
The Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987 removed statutory immunity from the Ministry of Defence, meaning that civil claims for compensation can be brought where negligence by the Armed Forces has caused injury. This is a separate process from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) or the War Pension Scheme. You can still pursue a civil claim if you have been turned down under those schemes.
Next steps
The first step is to get expert legal advice. Speak to our specialist team for a free, no-obligation discussion about your circumstances. We can quickly assess the potential of your case and guide you on next steps. There is no need to gather extensive paperwork at this stage – our priority is to understand your situation and explain your options clearly.
Your rights
If the injury to your hearing occurred after the 1987 Act came into force, then you are eligible to bring a claim. If you are a veteran, you are eligible regardless of when you left the service. If you are currently serving as military personnel, there is no requirement to wait until you are discharged to bring a claim – you can start the process while still an active member of the Armed Forces.
How Complex Law can help
Our specialist claims solicitors understand the challenges involved in claiming against the MoD, and we have a trusted network of medical specialists and barristers who can help build the strongest possible case.
Specialist legal & medical teams
We have experience of the military environment and the specific legal frameworks that apply, and we can put you in touch with leading audiologists experienced in noise-induced hearing loss in a service context.
Flexible funding, including no‑win‑no‑fee
In the majority of military hearing loss cases, we can act on a no‑win‑no‑fee basis. We’ll let you know what options are available to you at the outset and clearly explain all costs.
How we calculate costs
Where no-win, no-fee applies, we’ll usually charge 25% plus VAT of any compensation you are awarded. In other cases, we offer fixed or staged fees where possible to reduce the financial impact.
Managing your claim end-to-end
We will provide a single point of contact to submit your claim letter to the MoD, liaise with the medical experts assessing your condition, manage evidence, and ensure you’re kept fully up to date at each stage.
Do you have a claim?
If you suffer from hearing loss, tinnitus, or other auditory problems that you believe are linked to your time in the armed forces, you may have grounds for legal action.
If you answered yes to any of the questions on our checklist, you may have a valid claim. Speak to Complex Law to explore your options – with no obligation to proceed.
Claim checklist
Did your relevant service take place after 1987?
Has your hearing damage impacted your daily life, career, or relationships?
Have you been diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus?
If not, do you experience ringing in the ears or have difficulty hearing?
Were you exposed to noise from firearms, explosions, vehicles, or aircraft during your service?
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Consumer Claims
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What Others Say
Hear from our past clients
We’re proud of our success rate. Over the last four decades, we’ve helped thousands of clients secure the judgments, compensation, settlements, or resolutions they were seeking.
Excellent rating
Paul W
Ridiculously easy to check and apply. All the searching is done for you in literally one minute. A soft credit check is required but doesn't impact your score. Go and claim what’s rightly owed!
Kathleen H
This is the first time I have contacted Complex Law. It was easy and I got a quick response. I was shocked how many finance companies they found within half an hour. There was no way I would have remembered these companies.
Sidali S
Really pleased with how easy it was to fill out the complaint form. The layout was clear, and the steps were simple to follow, which made the whole process quick and stress-free. It’s great to see such an efficient and user-friendly system in place.
Frequently asked questions
If you don’t find the answer to your question here, get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help.
Yes – you don’t have to leave the military before bringing a civil claim, and the fact of bringing such a claim will not affect your career or any entitlements. If you’re currently serving as a member of the Armed Forces and believe you have been affected by hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of your duties, contact Complex Law and we’ll advise you on the best way forward.
If your case is successful, the amount of compensation awarded is based on a combination of factors: the severity of your condition, the extent to which it impacts work, relationships and other aspects of your daily life, as well as any treatment needs, for example, hearing aids. Once we have discussed your claim and received an expert medical evaluation of your condition, we’ll be able to give you a reasonable estimate of the likely compensation.
Yes, it’s true that personal injury claims – which cover military hearing loss – are subject to strict time limits. Generally, you have three years from the date you became aware that your hearing loss was significant and linked to your military service. This is known as the "date of knowledge". As these rules can be complex, it is vital to seek legal advice as soon as possible.
It means that in the event your claim is not successful, you will not be required to pay any legal or court fees – the cost is borne entirely by Complex Law. If your case is successful, we will recover the majority of the costs from the MoD, and we will take a fee from the compensation awarded to you, based on the percentage agreed before we begin working together.
The status of any previous or pending AFCS or War Pension scheme applications has no bearing on your eligibility to bring a civil claim against the MoD; they are entirely separate legal processes. So, even if you have been turned down for an award under those schemes in the past, a civil claim may still be a viable route to seeking compensation for your hearing loss or tinnitus.
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