Medical science has long known that loud noises, experienced over an extended period of time, even at an early time in one’s life, can cause acoustic trauma which may not be recognised or sufficiently detected until after some considerable time has elapsed.

Problems of noise induced hearing loss, due to prolonged exposure to excessive levels are not just confined to traditional working environments such as heavy manufacturing, fabrication or construction, where personnel have fallen victim to industrial deafness problems later in life.

Armed service veterans have also suffered hearing damage as a result of being exposed to extremely loud environmental and/or combat related noises whilst they were on active duty.

Military personnel are most often exposed to noises such as machine guns, mortars, bombs, artillery, airplane engines and shipboard machinery, usually without the benefit of hearing protection. Those veterans frequently develop hearing loss and tinnitus as they become older.

Claims for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus must however, be supported by current medical evidence and relevant military service history, which would indicate that the veteran was exposed to prolonged loud noises whilst on active duty.

There must be medical evidence of a current hearing loss with or without tinnitus and, most importantly, there must be a documented medical opinion from a licensed audiologist that the current hearing loss or tinnitus was more likely than not to have been caused by his/her exposure to environmental and/or combat related noise while on active duty.

Medical evidence is always critical to the approval of any injury and disability claim to confirm that the disability you are claiming actually exists. A sensible course of action is to first confirm the mandatory procedures required from expert solicitors with specialist experience in injury and disablement compensation, and who will provide key legal hearing loss advice.