Military Claims
St Helens Law’s military claim solicitors help serving personnel and veterans claim compensation for noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus caused by their time served in the UK Armed Forces. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis and offer everyone a FREE initial consultation to see if we can help you.
At St Helens Law, we understand how much your hearing matters, and how difficult it can be when damage caused during service begins to affect your work, relationships and everyday life.
Our military claims solicitors bring civil claims against the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on behalf of those whose hearing was harmed by noise during service, whether you are still serving or have left the forces.
Every claim is handled on a no win, no fee basis, and as part of our wider Personal Injury service, you’ll have the support of a firm that has been helping clients for over 20 years.
Speak to Amanda Formby about your claim
To arrange a FREE initial consultation, call 01744 385 171 or email amanda.formby@sthelenslaw.co.uk if it’s easier for you due to your hearing loss.
Military deafness claims
Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common injuries reported by members of the Armed Forces. Developing gradually over years of exposure or suddenly after a single exercise or deployment event, it is also often accompanied by tinnitus.
The Royal British Legion has found that serving in the forces makes you 1.6 times more likely to have tinnitus, and that those who have served on operational tours are twice as likely to have hearing loss.
The MOD has a legal duty of care to protect personnel from the damage caused by excessive noise. This includes providing suitable hearing protection, training on how to use it and appropriate hearing checks. If you did not receive this standard of care, you could be entitled to make a military deafness claim.
Our team handles claims for:
- Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) – Gradual or sudden hearing damage caused by inadequate ear protection or excessive noise levels as part of service.
- Tinnitus – Ongoing ringing, buzzing or hissing in one or both ears as a result of noise exposure.
Common sources of harmful noise include:
- Small arms and range training
- Artillery and explosions
- Aircraft and helicopters
- Armoured vehicles and machinery on board ships
If you experienced or spent time around any of these and have noticed hearing changes, it’s worth speaking to our team, even if many years have passed.
Other military claims
If, while we are handling your hearing loss claim, we believe you have evidence for another claim, for example, relating to poor medical treatment you received during service, our experienced team will consider this and let you know if we can further assist you.
Because military claims follow their own rules and procedures, any such claim would be handled by the same team covering your military deafness claim.
Please note: St Helens Law does not handle claims arising from service-related deaths. Bereaved families can find further information and support in the government guidance on what to do when a service person or veteran dies, or by calling the Veterans UK helpline on 0808 1914 218.
We also don’t submit applications under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or the War Pension Scheme. These can also be submitted with the assistance of Veterans UK.
How to Claim
If you are a serving or former member of the Armed Forces, you may receive compensation for an injury caused by service by pursuing a civil claim against the MOD.
A negligence claim against the MOD seeks compensation on the basis that the MOD failed in its duty of care to you. Damages are assessed in line with court guidelines and can include your financial losses, and St Helens Law can help you recover them.
You are free to pursue an AFCS or War Pension claim independently while we progress your civil claim. You should be aware that any payment from either scheme will be offset against your final civil damages to prevent double recovery.
Who is Eligible for a Military Hearing Loss Claim?
To make a claim with St Helens Law, you will need to meet the following criteria:
- Service
You are currently serving or have served in the UK Armed Forces. This includes the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force (RAF), Special Forces and Reserve Forces. - Dates of service
You were exposed to excessive noise on or after 15th May 1987. Exposure before this date can only be included if your claim also includes exposure from 15th May 1987 onwards. - Hearing loss
Your hearing loss can be confirmed by testing. We’ll arrange our own audiograms (hearing tests) as part of your claim.
It is also common to experience delayed hearing loss, where the symptoms of hearing loss and/or tinnitus can be delayed and may only become noticeable after leaving service. This is covered under a deafness or hearing loss claim.
The 15th May 1987 date is extremely significant because, until the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987 came into effect, members of the Armed Forces were generally unable to bring negligence claims against the Crown for injuries sustained during service.
You should be aware that a claim cannot be brought by a service member’s next of kin or on behalf of someone who has passed away, as each case will need a hearing test for confirmation.
What evidence is needed for a military claim for deafness or hearing loss?
Our clients are often very relieved to learn how little they actually need to get started, imagining it’s years of paperwork they have to recover. In fact, you only actually need your military service number.
How much compensation could you receive?
The amount you could be awarded depends on the severity of your hearing loss and tinnitus and the impact they have on your daily life.
The figures below reflect standard court guidelines for the injury itself, known as the general damages, the personal injury element of compensation. This doesn’t include additional financial losses, such as loss of earnings or the cost of hearing aids. These are claimed separately as special damages.
| Severity | Guideline General Damage Amount | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Slight hearing loss or minor tinnitus | Up to £8,560 | Short-term or mild ringing in the ears, or a minor, temporary reduction in hearing that doesn’t severely disrupt daily life. |
| Mild tinnitus with some hearing loss | £8,890 to £18,180 | Mild tinnitus that comes and goes, accompanied by a slight but permanent reduction in hearing clarity. |
| Moderate tinnitus and NIHL | £18,180 to £36,260 | Constant or intrusive tinnitus, with clear, permanent hearing loss that makes everyday conversation difficult and requires hearing aids. |
| Severe tinnitus and hearing loss | £36,260 to £55,570 | Continuous, distressing tinnitus that alters sleep patterns and concentration, combined with significant hearing loss in one ear or both ears. |
| Profound deafness in both ears | Around £100,000 | Extreme cases where hearing is lost entirely, or almost entirely, in both ears. |
Our military claims process
- Free initial consultation – You speak to Amanda Formby, who will discuss your service history and whether you are likely to have a claim.
- Agreeing terms – If we can help, we explain our no win, no fee terms (a conditional fee agreement) in full before you decide to proceed.
- Medical evidence – We arrange audiograms with a hearing specialist to confirm and measure your hearing loss, and can advise on devices that may help reduce its effect on your daily life.
- Obtaining your records – Using your service number, we request your military records from the MOD.
- We formally notify the MOD of your claim
- Investigation period – The MOD then has 3 or 6 months to investigate, depending on whether you served overseas.
- Decision from MOD – At this point, the MOD will make a liability decision, which will include accepting whether they are at fault or not.
- Negotiation period – Finally, we’ll negotiate a settlement on your behalf.
No win, no fee military claims
We handle military hearing loss claims on a no-win, no-fee basis, also known as a conditional fee agreement. For claimants, this means:
- There is nothing to pay at the outset.
- If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not pay our fees.
- If your claim is successful, a success fee of 25% is deducted from your compensation. This applies to general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA), plus certain past financial losses.
It is not taken from any damages awarded for future financial loss.
No-win, no-fee cannot guarantee the outcome of a claim, but we will always explain our terms clearly before you commit, so you know exactly where you stand and what to expect.
Why choose St Helens Law?
- A named point of contact – Amanda Formby is your first point of contact for military claims and can be reached at amanda.formby@sthelenslaw.co.uk.
- Accredited quality – St Helens Law is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (number 439956) and holds Lexcel and Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation, reflecting our commitment to high standards of practice management and client care.
- Highly rated in reviews – Our clients rate us 4.9 out of 5 on ReviewSolicitors.
- Online case tracking – You can track every stage of your claim without leaving the house.
- Transparent terms – We explain our no-win, no-fee terms in plain English so you can make an informed decision.
Talk to Amanda Formby about a military deafness claim
If you believe your hearing has been damaged by noise during your time in the Armed Forces, our team is here to help.
To arrange a FREE initial consultation, call 01744 385 171 or email Amanda at amanda.formby@sthelenslaw.co.uk.
If you’ve been injured another way, you can also find out more about our other types of accident claims.