300,000 veterans could have been left injured after faulty PPE sold to MOD

As many as 300,000 soldiers and veterans could be suffering from hearing loss due to faulty protective equipment purchased by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). American company 3M supplied at least 400,000 sets of Combat Arms Earplugs V2 to the MOD between 2003 and 2023.

The company is now facing legal action from veterans in the UK and US who allege that they suffered life-changing hearing loss and hearing damage like tinnitus, and related issues including stress, anxiety and depression. Rikki Drury, 40, a businessman and TikToker from Redcar, North Yorkshire, used the equipment routinely during his 12 years in the British Army where he deployed on operational tours to Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. The former bomb disposal specialist alleges that the company "just saw dollar signs and didn't really care" about the welfare of those who depended on the kit for protection.

He told the Daily Express: "Ever since training and serving in the Army, I have always had problems with the hearing in my right ear. I also get high-pitched ringing in my ears.

"I've had it that long I just thought it was normal. When you're in high-stakes situations in Iraq or Afghanistan, the last thing you think about is your hearing.

"It's only later on you think: 'The MoD spent so much money on body armour, so why did they give us earplugs that didn't work?'

"The truth is, the MoD will have trusted 3M, but 3M just saw dollar signs - and they didn't really care about the troops using their faulty earplugs. It's a real kick in the guts."

Rikki, a former lance corporal in the Royal Logistics Corps (RLC), is one of hundreds of former soldiers to have joined a 'no win, no fee' claim by KP Law, a leading UK group action specialist seeking justice and compensation from 3M.

The move comes after the firm agreed to pay $6 billion to settle lawsuits from U.S. service members who say they experienced hearing loss or other serious injuries after using faulty earplugs made by the company.

The lawsuit alleged that a defective design allowed the products - which were intended to protect ears from close-range firearms and other loud noises - to loosen slightly and allow hearing damage.

KP Law, the firm leading the UK legal action against 3M believes that as many as 300,000 veterans could have been impacted by the defective equipment.

The scandal has seen calls for an independent investigation voiced by Conservative MP and former Army doctor Neil Shastri-Hurst.

He asked Al Carns MC, Minister for the Armed Forces, in parliament: "For many veterans, hearing loss is one of the hidden scars of service, and in a number of cases, it has been linked to defective 3M hearing equipment.

"Will the Minister use their arts of persuasion on the Prime Minister to ensure an independent inquiry, so that we can find out the extent of this, and see whether any other equipment is involved and how we can prevent it from happening again?"

Carns, a former Royal Marines Colonel, advised that members of the military who are the victims of hearing loss can apply for compensation via the military's own compensation scheme whilst advising that "broader work is happening on those specific bits of capability."

The response is understood to have annoyed those involved in the lawsuit, with one source telling the Daily Express that Carns' response ignored the severity of the claim and the complexities in launching legal action against a multinational corporation.

An MOD spokesperson said that whilst the claim was not being lodged against the organisation, serving or personnel affected by hearing loss due to their service are able to apply for compensation via the armed forces compensation scheme.

The Daily Express has approached 3M for comment.