Defective 3M military earplugs have been linked to an increase in hearing loss among American armed forces members in recent decades. Whether full or partial, unilateral or bilateral, hearing loss or tinnitus from combat is a major problem among veterans that affects every aspect of life, from enjoying family gatherings to being able to work. Millions of our proud military deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2015 were exposed to a hearing loss risk as a result of military earplug defects.
Hearing loss is a common problem among veterans; as of 2015, 1 million U.S. veterans claimed annual disability benefits for full or partial hearing loss as a result of their service, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Yet despite mitigation efforts in recent decades, military hearing loss is on the rise; while the veteran population at large is three times more likely to experience hearing loss than nonveterans, those who have served since 2000 are four times more likely to suffer from hearing loss than others.
In recent decades, the military’s awareness of military hearing loss has increased. Why then is the rate of hearing loss among armed forces members also up? A whistleblower’s report in 2018 prompted a Justice Department military earplug lawsuit, uncovering a likely source of rampant military hearing loss.
According to evidence produced by an anonymous whistleblower in 2018, the 3M earplug defect was first detected during internal product testing in 2000 by the original manufacturer, Aearo Technologies.
(Aearo Technologies was acquired by 3M in 2008.) Test results were apparently manipulated to conceal the dangerous earplug defects. In 2003, at the onset of the Iraq war, Aereo Technologies responded to a Defense Logistics Agency RFP for military ear plugs with the defective Combat Arms Earplugs v2. In that paperwork, the company authorized that its earplugs complied with federal regulations, officials knew to be false. Failing to disclose the known earplug defect to the military constitutes a violation of the False Claims Act. 3M settled a DOJ lawsuit based on these allegations in 2018.
Hiring a Defective Earplugs Lawyer
Evan M. Ostfeld, Esquire has over 27 years of legal experience and only represents injured people and their families. His legal team and associated counsel can handle a 3M earplug lawsuit anywhere in the United States, including its territories. We do not charge anything upfront nor are there any monthly bills for the legal work performed. Attorney’s fees and costs are only due if there is a court award or settlement; our 3M earplug law firm does not get paid until you do! Why burden yourself with the stress of litigation? We’ll take you thru step by step. Our staff is always a phone call, text or email away at (866) BAD-RXRX (223-7979), (866) I SUE YOU (478-3968), (954) 998-0075 Text or evan@attorney4life.com.
