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VETERAN HEARING LOSS

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VA Hearing Loss Disability

Hearing loss and tinnitus have become signature injuries among military veterans, affecting hundreds of thousands of servicemembers who relied on defective hearing protection during training and combat operations. While exposure to loud weapons, explosions, and military equipment inherently creates hearing damage risks, faulty earplugs manufactured by 3M Company compounded these dangers by failing to provide promised protection. Veterans now face permanent hearing impairment that disrupts careers, relationships, and daily life because a major defense contractor prioritized profits over servicemember safety.

Due to a range of military action and tasks, veteran hearing loss and tinnitus are among the most common disabilities seen following military service. Some reports say up to 60 percent of active servicemen in the U.S. end up with some kind of ear injury, and veteran hearing loss claims are rising.

Not only are veterans imperiled by high-decibel situations, but claims of defective earplugs provided by the military and government contractors have worsened what was already a serious health risk to veterans.

Class action lawsuits have been filed against 3M for providing the military with ineffective and defectively designed combat earplugs for many years.

Joe Lyon is an experienced VA claims and Product Liability Attorney investigating veteran hearing loss and tinnitus on behalf of plaintiffs. 

The Lyon Firm is proud to represent veterans in tinnitus and hearing loss disability claims, as well as in class action lawsuits against companies for failing to provide effective equipment to those serving in the nation’s armed forces.

Veteran Hearing Loss

Noise-induced hearing loss is so common because soldiers and military personnel are constantly exposed to high noise levels. Even with ear protection, service members risk ear injury because a good amount of the noise experienced exceeds the maximum allowed even with double hearing protection.

Tinnitus is described as a ringing of the ears, and is very common for those serving in the military. Those on flight decks, firing ranges and in combat zones are likely to be exposed to a range of loud noises. Earplugs are issued by the military.

Many plaintiffs involved in the 3M Earplug Defect lawsuits state that they regularly wore the Combat Arms Earplugs, and yet they still suffer from tinnitus and hearing loss, some of which may be permanent.

Sources of Military Hearing Loss

  • Weapons
  • Explosions
  • Aircraft—jets, helicopters and cargo planes
  • Ship engine rooms
  • Carrier Deck noise

The defective 3M earplugs were designed to largely limit loud noises and at the same time hear spoken commands and other quieter sounds. But the company failed to warn that the earplugs may be ineffective for some. Lawyers involved in the case say the company was even aware of the earplug defects and chose not to inform the military.

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ABOUT THE LYON FIRM

Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.

The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.

NO COST UNLESS WE WIN

The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.

Symptoms of Hearing Loss & Tinnitus

Noise exposure can induce several hearing symptoms such as temporary threshold shifts, tinnitus, hyperacusis, recruitment, distortion or abnormal pitch perception. Patients with tinnitus sometimes exhibit difficulty in listening to high frequency noises such as whistles or buzzers. Symptoms of military hearing loss may include:

  • Asking people to repeat themselves often
  • Difficulty following conversations
  • Intently watching speakers’ mouths
  • Turning head to the side to assist hearing
  • Being vague with volume levels
  • Talking too loudly
  • Speech deterioration

Veteran Tinnitus Lawsuits

Hearing loss and veteran ear injury is said to be a cost of war. So many war veterans return with ear injuries that of all the veterans seeking VA care, about 20 percent have some kind of hearing loss. The military does supply soldiers with ear protection, however, it has been found defective and ineffective in many cases.

3M sold the United States Military their Combat Arms Earplugs for 18 years, from 2000 to 2018, when it was discovered the earplugs were defective in their design, and put many soldiers at risk of hearing loss and tinnitus.

In high noise situations—gun range, helicopter and plane runways, and in combat—soldiers relied on the earplugs to protect their hearing, dampening the loud sound of weapons and jet engines. Veteran ear injury reports include significant hearing loss and tinnitus.

Plaintiffs allege 3M employees knew about the defective military earplugs as early as 2000. However, 3M said their product testing complied with military standards. The company provided the earplugs until 2015 but the earplugs were not recalled and still used long after the company discontinued the product.

The Lyon Firm is proud to represent injured veterans in a variety of VA disability claims as well as class action product liability lawsuits. When defense contractors provide inferior and faulty safety equipment to soldiers which results in injury, veterans have the ability to come forward and file injury claims against companies like 3M.

Combat Earplug Defects

Some veterans have said the earplugs would easily slip out of the ear, or one of the ends would fall off. The qui tam lawsuit filed by the United States alleged that 3M and Aearo Technologies, Inc., knew the CAEv2 earplugs were too short for proper insertion into veterans ears and that the earplugs could loosen with a soldier realizing it.

3M marketed the Combat Arms Earplugs (CAE) earplugs to the military and claimed they “meet the demanding hearing protection needs of the armed forces,” and that they allow “greater situational awareness than a common foam earplug yet helps attenuate dangerous peak levels,” and the earplugs “protect against high-level steady noises like those in tracked vehicles and air transport.”

If you were exposed to high levels of auditory trauma during military service and have developed hearing loss or tinnitus, you may have a VA disability claim as well as an injury and product liability claim against 3M, the manufacturer of defective earplugs. A recent hearing test from a medical center is recommended.

The Lyon Firm is dedicated to representing veterans in VA disability claims in a wide variety of personal injury and product liability lawsuits. When contractors fail to protect those serving in the American armed forces, they should be held liable for injuries and damages related to their negligence.

Understanding Military Hearing Injuries

Noise-induced hearing loss occurs when loud sounds damage delicate hair cells in the inner ear that transmit sound signals to the brain. Unlike other cells, these do not regenerate, making hearing loss permanent and progressive. Military environments create constant exposure to dangerous noise levels from weapons fire, aircraft engines, heavy machinery, explosive ordinance, and tactical vehicles that far exceed safe thresholds.

Tinnitus manifests as persistent ringing, buzzing, hissing, or roaring sounds that exist only in the sufferer’s perception. This condition often accompanies hearing loss and can range from mild annoyance to debilitating distraction that prevents sleep, concentration, and normal social interaction. Many veterans describe tinnitus as one of their most frustrating disabilities because the constant noise never stops and others cannot perceive or understand their suffering.

Hearing damage impacts communication ability, making conversations difficult in noisy environments or when multiple people speak simultaneously. Veterans struggle to understand speech, frequently asking others to repeat themselves, and may withdraw from social situations due to embarrassment or frustration. Professional opportunities diminish when hearing loss prevents effective workplace communication or disqualifies veterans from jobs requiring normal hearing acuity.

VA Hearing Loss Disability FAQs

How can I prove my military hearing loss case?

Documentation begins with military service records showing deployment dates, occupational specialties, and duty assignments during the relevant timeframe when defective earplugs were issued. Personnel files, training records, and deployment orders establish your presence in environments where the earplugs would have been used and where hazardous noise exposure occurred.

Medical evidence includes audiological testing demonstrating hearing loss patterns consistent with noise exposure, tinnitus diagnoses, and treatment records showing ongoing hearing-related healthcare needs. Baseline hearing tests conducted at enlistment provide comparison points showing deterioration that occurred during service. VA disability ratings for hearing conditions offer official recognition of service-connected impairment.

Testimony from fellow servicemembers who served alongside you corroborates that Combat Arms Earplugs were issued and used during your service period. Personal recollections about when you began noticing hearing problems, how symptoms progressed, and the impact on your life provide human context to medical documentation. Expert witnesses including audiologists, military equipment specialists, and product design engineers testify about how the defects caused your specific injuries.

What compensation is available?

Economic damages encompass all medical expenses for hearing evaluations, treatments, hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and ongoing audiological care. Hearing aids require periodic replacement and adjustment, creating lifetime costs that factor into damage calculations. Lost wages and reduced earning capacity reflect income losses when hearing impairment limits job performance or eliminates career opportunities that require good hearing.

Non-economic damages address the profound impact hearing loss creates. Constant tinnitus causes sleep deprivation, anxiety, depression, and concentration difficulties that diminish quality of life. Social isolation from communication struggles strains marriages and family relationships. Loss of enjoyment applies when hearing damage prevents appreciation of music, conversation, nature sounds, and other auditory experiences that enrich life. Emotional distress stems from frustration, embarrassment, and the permanent nature of the condition.

Settlement amounts vary widely based on injury severity, age at onset, and individual circumstances. Some veterans have recovered substantial six-figure settlements reflecting the permanent and progressive nature of their hearing injuries. Cases involving severe bilateral hearing loss, debilitating tinnitus, or younger veterans facing decades of impairment typically warrant higher compensation.

Why hire The Lyon Firm?

The Lyon Firm brings extensive experience representing veterans in defective military equipment litigation. Our attorneys understand the unique challenges servicemembers face when pursuing claims against major defense contractors with vast legal resources. We have successfully handled numerous Combat Arms Earplug cases, recovering significant compensation for veterans suffering permanent hearing damage.

Our legal team comprehends military culture, service documentation, and the specific circumstances of training and combat deployments where defective earplugs were used. We maintain relationships with expert witnesses who can credibly testify about military noise exposure, proper hearing protection standards, and how product defects caused your specific injuries. This specialized knowledge proves essential when confronting defense arguments attempting to attribute hearing loss to other causes.

We handle all hearing loss cases on a contingency fee basis, eliminating upfront costs and financial risk for veteran clients. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation through settlement or verdict. This arrangement ensures that financial concerns never prevent deserving veterans from pursuing justice against negligent manufacturers.

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