Active U.S. troops across all branches trust their protective gear to shield them from harshest conditions. From 2003 – 2015, over a million active U.S. military members across continents and training bases relied on the same earplugs supplied exclusively by 3M. The design of these 3M Combat Arms Earplug, or CAEv2, earplugs was dual-purpose; one end could be used as regular earplugs, allowing soldiers to communicate with each other, the other could be flipped and inserted into the ear canal during loud periods. These CAEv2 earplugs, however, have proved defective after masses of veterans are experiencing premature hearing loss.

This issue comes as no surprise considering 3M falsified the earplug testing results. 3M knew as early as 2000 that their combat earplugs would not keep soldiers safe from developing tinnitus. The fit of the earplugs was too short, to add, the “innovative” design caused them to loosen over time, eventually exposing the eardrums to harsh sounds. But 3M decided to lie about the safety of these earplugs to secure the lucrative government contract. After the Justice Department heard of this fraud, they brought a case against 3M for selling defective earplugs to the Defense Logistics Agency. In 2018, 3M ended up paying a 9.1 million dollar fine as a result to resolve the claims.  However, the hearing of younger soldiers continues to decline.

Thousands of military persons are now seeking compensation for their hearing loss developed while serving our country. From hearing aids, medical bills, the devastation of lost earning potential—lives remain hurt been by the negligence of 3M. Some common qualifications for a claim are listed below:

• Served in US military from 2003-2015
• Used 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs during service
• Diagnosed with unilateral/bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus

If you or a loved one has suffered hearing loss or tinnitus after using defective combat earplugs, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the defective earplug lawyers at the Yost Legal Group for a free initial consultation today. The Yost Legal Group combat earplug attorneys will investigate your case and help you get the compensation you deserve. Please contact the Yost Legal Group at 1-800-YOST-LAW.