Defects reported in 3M military ear plugs could cause soldiers, sailors, and other service members to suffer from tinnitus or hearing loss.

The 3M military ear plugs have been associated with failure rates, loosening, and degradation over time. Accordingly, those servicemembers who were affected by hearing loss military disability could be eligible to take legal action.

Due to the fact that military members are often exposed to explosions in training or in combat, proper hearing protection is key to avoiding long-term hearing damage. For this reason, ear plugs are standard issue for most people entering the service. Unfortunately, hearing loss from military service is one of the most common disability claims filed by servicemembers.

Recent 3M Ear Plug Settlement

A $9 million settlement over 3M military ear plugs has to do with claims that the company allegedly sold defective combat ear plugs to the U.S. military while knowing that these would loosen and break down over time. The settlement was based on claims that the company sold their dual ended combat ear plugs version 2 without disclosing known defects about the actual effectiveness of the ear plugs.

These ear plugs were allegedly sold to the Defense Logistics Agency and were given to many different soldiers, sailors and other servicemembers over the course of numerous years. It has now come to light that these ear plugs may have been defective and that 3M might have known about it, causing soldiers hearing loss and other severe injuries that might follow them through their career and service or after they leave military service.

According to the settlement documents, the United States government alleged 3M and predecessor Aero Technologies Inc. were aware that the earplugs were too short to be properly inserted into soldier’s ears. Due to the defective design, the earplugs loosen inside the ear canal and do not prevent harmful sound effects like they were supposed to.

The lawsuit alleged 3M failed to disclose the military ear plug design defects, which reportedly caused numerous soldiers and veterans to sustain serious injuries. The allegedly defective earplugs were sold to Defense Logistics Agency, which reportedly did not properly block out sound and did not work as advertised.

The claims against 3M were brought under the enforcement of a False Claims Act lawsuit. A False Claims Act legal action is typically brought by someone who has insider knowledge about the dangers of a product, defective nature of it or other types of fraud.

According to the Department of Justice, the settlement resolved allegations that 3M violated the False Claims Act by knowingly selling defective ear plugs and failing to disclose the design defect at any time during the portion that this contract was in place.

“Government contractors who seek to profit at the expense of our military will face appropriate consequences,” stated the Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

Military Hearing Loss

Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common types of military disability claims filed due to those who have heard explosions and gunfire. The wearing of ear plugs is an important way to prevent against long term hearing damage since many military members hear these kinds of sounds often.

Exposure to loud noises can happen at any age, but military servicemembers are at a higher risk of facing it. According to the National Institutes of Health, noise-induced hearing loss can even be caused by initial exposure to an intense sound like an explosion or regular exposure to loud sounds over a long period of time.

After the defective 3M combat arms earplugs became public news, it is expected hundreds of military veterans are expected to file legal action against 3M. While Aero Technologies was responsible for designing and making the allegedly defective earplugs, 3M Company assumed responsibility when acquired.