Army training leads to sudden hearing loss for 21-Year-old soldier

Our client

Our client, Dean, spent his life looking up to his grandfathers, and at 19, he chose to follow in their army footsteps. After two years in the army, Dean was medically discharged due to the damage that was sustained to his hearing.

The injury to his hearing was caused by a training exercise he needed to take in order to be a solider. The infantry training he underwent in Catterick included live firing exercises. A live fire exercise is a military exercise in which live ammunition and ordnance is used, as opposed to blanks or fakes. This means that the trainees were exposed to the same volume of sounds as they would have been in combat. Hearing protection was provided but it was not effective enough to protect from the level of noise Dean was being exposed to during this exercise.

Dean now suffers from noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Tinnitus is often called ‘ringing in the ears’ but it is not just ringing. It can also mean a person hears:

• buzzing
• humming
• grinding
• hissing
• whistling
• music or singing
• noises that beat in time with your pulse

For some people, tinnitus may come and go. However, it can impact your daily life and can be very distressing. It can affect concentration and cause difficulty sleeping and depression. There is no cure or treatment for tinnitus and living with it can be detrimental to a person’s mental health.

The damage to Dean’s hearing was realised during a routine medical check, and he was medically discharged due to this injury. Leaving the military due to hearing loss meant that other career options were limited for Dean, such as joining the police force as he would not be able to pass the required hearing tests.

The injuries Dean sustained from his two years in the army are permanent, and one with symptoms he will forever have to deal with.

How we helped

Dean was represented by Madelene Holdsworth, Managing Director of Specialist Legal Services, who brought a claim against the Ministry of Defence on behalf of Dean. This claim resulted in compensation for Dean that covered:

• the actual injuries,
• his loss of earnings in the army,
• the loss of future pension that he would have had if he were able to stay in the army.

Regarding securing the six-figure settlement for Dean, Madelene said “I’m hopeful that with the help of the compensation he will be able to succeed in his future aspirations.”

Dean is now pursuing a career in property development, more secure with the settlement he received.

How we could help you

Military life can lead to accidents and injuries that have nothing to do with combat operations. If you have suffered hearing loss and/or tinnitus while serving in the military, whether the Army, RAF, Navy, special forces, or the reserves, you may have the right to claim compensation. Call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online.