Jim Shannon, Democratic Unionist Party MP for Strangford, asked the Ministry of Defence about the support provided and planned for veterans who experienced hearing loss during their service.
Al Carns, Parliamentary Under-Secretary and Minister for Veterans, responded on 6th September 2024, stating: “There is no individual compensation scheme for hearing loss. The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) compensates for any injury (including Noise-Induced Sensorineural Hearing Loss), illness or death which was caused by or worsened by service on or after 6 April 2005. The older War Pension Scheme (WPS) compensates for any injury, illness or death which was caused by or aggravated by service before 6 April 2005.”
He further explained: “Medical evidence is carefully considered, and hearing loss is assessed initially for attributability to service, based on the burden of proof associated with the scheme rules set by Parliament.”
The decision-makers take into consideration a wide variety of evidence, “including but not limited to the service medical records, audiograms, hospital case notes and GP records (if they have left service).”
Carns also mentioned the 2023 review of the AFCS, stating: “A 2023 review of the AFCS in the form of the quinquennial review (QQR) was last updated on 21 March 2024. The purpose of which is to ensure AFCS remains fit for purpose, providing appropriate recognition and financial support to those members of the Armed Forces who are injured, become ill or die as a result of service.”
Will the NATO IR paint being damaging to health be the next compensation claims, be harder to prove?
A scam.
A sliding scale that is shifted further and further.
The only ex that I know got a payout was because he drove AFVs. He had a notch of deafness.
Funnily, I know an ex copper, dog handler, he has a notch of deafness, twenty years of dogs yapping.
He cannot get a payout either.
I have a history of skin cancers. Situated mainly on my head and ears. About ten removed, to date. First one was diagnosed 16 years ago – 30 years after leaving the military. Apparently they can lie dormant for 30 – 40 years, then suddenly appear. Rather like smoking-related cancer. The dermatologist who first diagnosed the problem attributed it to my time overseas (about 12 years, out of 22 years service).
During a regular check up about three years ago the doctor mentioned the AFCS, which I hadn’t heard of before and gave me an information sheet. Long story short, after supplying much supporting evidence I received almost £7,000.
So it’s worth persevering.
I have hearing loss from small arms and 20, 30 , 76 and 4.5 guns, explosions from demolitions work and also working on FF/DD flight decks with Helos of various types, so I have some personal knowledge and a hand in the game.
I applied for a war pension, and it got knocked back.
Appealed.
Knocked back.
Endex.
The MOD assessors are in house, not independent and set and mark their own exam questions. The whole MOD Comp scheme is rigged against you.
Even with hearing loss, MOD supplied hearing aids they argue that its age related and not due to exposure…
Now 10 years later a massive case is ongoing. The premise is that the PPE provided was not fit for purpose.
It wasn’t fit for purpose.
I had the data and reports MOD commissioned on the subject and the dates when MOD knew about it. They are bang to rights on it.
The MOD is currently working out a compo matrix for hearing loss for the team who brought the case. It will be based on time served, exposure during that time and hearing audiogram when you left the service. There are also several test cases going through in 2025 to determine the monetary levels of compo to apply to the matrix.
Six figure sums can be expected for a lot of people due to back dating etc.
There are over 5000 people in that one case…
Hi GB. Are you in that 5,000 group? If so, I wish you all the best with your bid.
Yep…and its growing. All claims to be in by 2026.
Hugh James have a whole section allocated to the work on their site.