PAYOUTS to troops who suffered hearing damage while serving could hit £200million for a single year, figures show.
The Ministry of Defence has revealed personnel made 13,748 injury claims for the 2023/2024 financial year.
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It is the worst year yet for compensation bids and is three times more than the 4,500 for the previous 12-month period — when £180million was paid out, mostly for hearing loss.
Troops who fail hearing tests are medically downgraded and can face being axed entirely.
But military experts say almost all hearing loss cases are avoidable if soldiers are trained to properly use ear protection.
In 2023, former Royal Marine James Barry, 34, from Nottingham, was awarded £700,000 for hearing loss and tinnitus.
He claimed they were caused by not having proper training or suitable protection.
The same year, ex-Mercian Regiment solider Vance Bacon-Sharratt, 35, from Mansfield, Notts, was awarded £350,000 for damage sustained during a firepower demonstration.
The dad of two left the Armed Forces in 2018 as a result of his injuries.
The MoD often opposes claims made by veterans claiming hearing loss, blaming other factors or arguing that proper procedure was not followed by the individual.
But last year, following a court ruling, defence chiefs accepted exposure to noise in the military has been a cause of hearing loss.
Ex-Army officer Col Phil Ingram said: “Hearing loss is down to negligence by the MoD.
“The correct use of appropriate hearing protection prevents hearing loss.”
The MoD had been contacted for comment.
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