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A recent veterans hearing loss lawsuit claims that 3M earplugs failed to protect the hearing of veterans, resulting in hearing problems.A recent veterans hearing loss lawsuit claims that 3M earplugs failed to protect the hearing of veterans, resulting in hearing problems.

An Army veteran from Ohio recently filed a lawsuit against 3M Corporation. He claimed that the company provided earplugs to the military which were defective, resulting in the veterans hearing loss and damage.

Tim L. reportedly served in the army for 20 years, eventually retiring as a sergeant first class. He claims that, after his two decades in the military, his only regret is the constant ringing in his ears that he’s been left with.

“The first pop, the ringing starts. You hope it goes away – sometimes it does. But in my case, it didn’t,” Tim said.

Tim claims that his hearing problems stem from 3M’s Dual Ended Combat Arms earplugs which were in use by the U.S. Armed Forces from 2003 to 2015. According to the 3M lawsuit, the earplugs were defective and failed to protect veterans like Tim from the damaging sounds associated with military service.

Although 3M agreed to pay $9 million to resolve an investigation of their earplugs by the federal government, Tim argues that he and other veterans have been left with long term injury. He claims that he deserves compensation from the company for their allegedly defective products because he will never recover from his hearing damage.

“It never goes away. Sometimes when you talk to me I won’t hear a word but I’ll know what it is because I know. But I don’t catch part of the word because it’s in the frequency range,” Tim notes.

3M insists that their products were not defective, but numerous veterans disagree and have taken legal action against the company due to their earplugs. 3M reportedly said in a statement that the earplug design was developed in “close coordination with the U.S. military” and that it “reflected the direction and feedback of individuals acting on the military’s behalf.”

Veterans Hearing Loss

If the ears are not protected while training or in combat zones, veterans hearing loss can occur. Hearing damage could take the form of full hearing loss or could show up as tinnitus.

Tinnitus is the medical term for ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing, or humming in the ears. This can range in pitch and may affect one or both ears. Some people experience tinnitus constantly while others experience the problem intermittently. In severe cases, tinnitus can interfere with a person’s ability to hear external sounds or concentrate effectively.

According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), over 933,000 veterans were receiving disability compensation for hearing loss at the end of 2014. Even more veterans were reportedly receiving compensation for tinnitus, with nearly 1.3 million veterans affected at the end of 2014. The VA notes that veterans who had their hearing damaged by blast exposure are more likely to develop a condition known as auditory processing disorder, or a difficulty understanding speech even if hearing tests come back normal.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual 3M Ear Plug lawsuit or military hearing loss class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, 3M Ear Plug lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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