A solider from Michigan recently filed legal action against 3M Company alleging military disability hearing loss due to the defective nature of the company’s dual ended ear plugs.

These earplugs were originally manufactured by Aero Technologies Inc., which had been acquired by 3M in 2008, with the lawsuit stating 3M had assumed all liability after the takeover.

Plaintiff Gale J. allegedly used 3M’s Dual Ended Combat Arms earplugs shortly after entering the military in 2003, and was later deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2006.

According to the claim, Gale and other military members were provided these dual ended earplugs and were under the assumption they would protect users from damaging high-volume sound.

More specifically, the Version 2 (CAEv2) dual ended Combat Arms Earplugs were reportedly too short for proper placement in the user’s ears causing them to become loose from their position and did not block out loud sounds like they should have.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it had reached $9.1 million settlement with 3M, for False Claims Act violations and for allegedly selling defective earplugs to the United States Military.

The DOJ further stated the 3M and Aero allegedly knew the earplugs were too short for proper use back in the early 2000s, but still sold them to the United States military without allegedly disclosing these problems.

This allegedly caused Gale and many others to suffer permanent military disability hearing loss during and after their service. Gale’s lawsuit further alleges 3M had manipulated testing results to exaggerate the effectiveness of the earplugs when the devices did not work nearly as well in practical use.

According to Gale’s lawsuit, soldiers were regularly within short distances of loud noises like rockets and ammunition fire during training exercises and live combat. These earplugs were supposed to block out the damaging side effects of such sounds, while allowing soldiers to hear each other’s cues and commands.

Instead, Gale’s lawsuit alleges they developed severe tinnitus and partial hearing loss.

Overview of Military Hearing Loss Statistics

United States military veterans across the country are suing 3M for permanent hearing damage, with the allegedly defective earplugs being used by military members between 2002 and 2015.

Some legal experts speculate these allegedly defective earplugs have caused thousands of United States military members to suffer permanent hearing damage and tinnitus severely impacting their quality of life.

According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, military hearing damage is the “most prevalent service-connected disability among American veterans.”

AARP reports that there are over 2.7 million veterans currently on benefits for some kind of tinnitus or hearing damage injury, but the real number is most likely much higher because this statistic only includes veterans who have been documented by the VA.

According to the CDC, veterans are approximately 30 percent more likely than other groups of people to suffer severe hearing impairment. The CDC also found that veterans who severed in the military after September 2001 are four times more likely to suffer from some degree of hearing loss.

Overall, military disability hearing loss is a prevalent concern for service members, veterans, and their loved ones and should be taken seriously. Military members who may have suffered hearing loss allegedly from 3M’s dual ended earplugs may be able to file legal action for damages.