British Army Deafness & Hearing Loss Compensation Claims
Last updated: April 2026
If you served in the British Army and suffered hearing loss or tinnitus due to noise exposure, you may be entitled to compensation from the Ministry of Defence. Many british army veterans have successfully claimed.
Noise Sources in the British Army
- Artillery fire (105mm, 155mm howitzers) — up to 185dB
- Small arms fire (SA80, GPMG, heavy machine guns)
- Armoured fighting vehicles (Warrior, Challenger, Bulldog)
- Helicopter operations (Chinook, Apache, Lynx)
- Explosive ordnance disposal and demolitions
- Generator noise in forward operating bases
Most At-Risk Roles
Royal Artillery
Gunners face some of the highest noise levels in the military from firing 105mm and 155mm howitzers. Hearing damage is extremely common among artillerymen.
Infantry
Regular weapons training and operational use of rifles, machine guns, and grenades expose infantry soldiers to dangerous noise levels, especially in enclosed environments.
Royal Armoured Corps
Tank crews and armoured vehicle operators are exposed to constant engine noise, weapons fire from turret-mounted systems, and radio communications at high volume.
Royal Engineers
Engineers working with demolitions, construction equipment, and power tools face sustained noise exposure across varied environments.
Historical Context
For decades, the British Army did not adequately protect soldiers' hearing. Before the 1990s, hearing protection was often unavailable, inadequate, or impractical in operational environments. Even after ear defenders became standard issue, many soldiers were not trained in their proper use or found them incompatible with helmets and communication equipment.