The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has extended the Military Hearing Loss Matrix until 31 January 2027, giving more current and former Armed Forces personnel the opportunity to benefit from the compensation framework established through litigation led by our military team.
The six-month extension means eligible claims submitted before 31 January 2027 will fall within the Matrix Agreement. The agreement follows years of litigation led by our firm, which has removed many of the legal and evidential hurdles that would otherwise make claims more complex and costly to resolve.
The litigation established important legal principles, including the Ministry of Defence’s duty of care and acceptance that those within the litigation were exposed to military noise capable of causing hearing damage. It also resulted in the Matrix Agreement and substantial settlements for individual clients, including awards of £550,000 and £182,250.
Simon Ellis, Partner in our military team, represents thousands of current and former Armed Forces personnel affected by noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. He said:
“We welcome the Ministry of Defence’s decision to extend the Military Hearing Loss Matrix until 31 January 2027. The extension gives more current and former service personnel the opportunity to benefit from the framework established following years of complex litigation.
“The extension must now be matched by timely action. Too many current and former service personnel have already waited years for their claims to be resolved. The Ministry of Defence should ensure eligible claims are progressed as quickly as possible so that those affected by military hearing loss and tinnitus receive the compensation they deserve. Hugh James will continue to press for claims to be resolved fairly and without unnecessary delay.”
The extension follows a series of significant developments in the Military Deafness litigation, including the High Court judgment that established how compensation for military hearing loss and tinnitus should be assessed.
Anyone who believes they suffered hearing damage during military service should seek legal advice before the revised deadline of 31 January 2027.
