Hope for veterans as MOD accepts responsibility for personnel's hearing loss
The Ministry of Defence has accepted responsibility for the hearing loss suffered by military personnel, offering hope to others who have been affected.
Until now the MOD had opposed many hearing loss claims made by veterans, variously arguing that other sources of noise were to blame, individuals should have worn protection, or their claims had been made too late.
But in a major breakthrough for thousands of military veterans seeking compensation for hearing loss suffered during their service, the MOD, in agreement with Hugh James Solicitors, has accepted responsibility.
It comes after a case last year saw a former Royal Marine awarded almost £714,000 in compensation after hearing loss ended his military career.
James Barry's case saw the High Court reject claims from the MOD that the former marine was partially responsible as he had failed to use hearing protection.
An MOD spokesperson said: "We take the health and wellbeing of our personnel seriously and always look at how we can reduce noise levels in their working environment.
"This is alongside providing training, protective equipment and regular hearing tests to detect any early signs of hearing loss so action can be taken if necessary.
"We have reached an agreement with Hugh James Solicitors on how to progress a cohort of historic noise-induced hearing loss claims, which has been accepted by the court."
The agreement with the law firm sees the MOD no longer disputing that it owes a duty of care to personnel who suffered hearing loss while serving their country.
Clients of the firm will now only have to prove that any hearing loss was sustained during their time in the military.
Simon Ellis from Hugh James said: "This is a groundbreaking development for servicemen and women seeking justice for their hearing loss.
"Many military personnel suffered hearing loss that was entirely preventable had they been provided with the correct equipment and training.
"As a result, individuals have had their careers prematurely ended, other employment opportunities denied to them and their personal lives irrevocably changed.
"People who put their lives on the line in the service of our country should expect that they are not put in additional unnecessary danger by their employer.
"The Ministry of Defence has both acknowledged the duty of care that it owes military personnel to protect their hearing and agreed that all individuals discharged after 1987 can secure the compensation they are entitled to for any hearing loss resulting from their military service."
A glimmer of hope
One former Royal Marine said the MOD accepting responsibility for his hearing loss provided hope not just for him in his legal fight for compensation, but for others too.
Robert Barnett was medically discharged from the military in 2014 after an 18-year career, which saw him serve three tours in Afghanistan and two in Iraq.
He is now one of the thousands hoping to receive compensation for noise-induced hearing loss, having launched legal action against the MOD in 2016.
He has never been able to afford the hearing aids he needed after suffering around a 20% loss of hearing in each ear, describing the legal process as "slow" and "frustrating".
"It gives me a glimmer of hope. Not just me, I hope nobody has to go through what I have. It's speeding up the process," he said.
"The people who don't have a good support network, this injection of cash, whatever that will be, whatever level, for some people that will mean the world, to not have to go through this lengthy legal battle.
"The reason I am doing this is to spread the message far and wide.
"We found in the veteran community and the services, sometimes things are kept need-to-know, so the hope of doing this is that the message is spread far and wide, and there is hope.
"If you don't ask, you don't get, so it is worth at least ringing, texting, or sending an email just to make an initial inquiry."
Several cases will go to trial next year to determine the level of compensation veterans should receive.
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