On this page you will find information about:
- What type of claim can be made for hearing loss.
- How an award is assessed.
- Support with appeals from the Royal British Legion.
What type of claim can be made for hearing loss?
If you've suffered from hearing loss due to Service in the Armed Forces, you may be eligible for a War Pension or Armed Forces compensation. Both schemes are administered by the MOD through Veterans UK.
There are different types of hearing loss caused by a range of different reasons.
Learn more about War Pensions, eligibility, and how to apply on the RBL Knowledge Base website.
How is an award assessed?
Please be aware that only a substantial level of hearing loss will warrant an award.
The measurement of hearing loss will be taken from the audiogram of the final or most recent Service medical. Veterans UK will assess the level of hearing loss by calculating the average over three frequencies: 1, 2, and 3 KHz. The average measurements are recorded in decibels for each ear.
The loss must be 50 decibels or more in both ears before an award will be made.
Tinnitus is part of hearing loss, despite not necessarily reducing individuals' ability to hear varied levels of noise. No separate award is tailored to tinnitus alone and so some claimants have affected hearing but do not qualify for a payment.
The MOD maintains that hearing loss cannot get worse once you have been removed from noise. This means that if your hearing reduces after discharge, the MOD will decide that Service was not the cause and therefore no award will be made.
Support from the Royal British Legion
If you have already made a claim for a War Pension or Armed Forces Compensation our team may be able to support you to make an appeal and represent you at a tribunal for free. Additionally, whether you are eligible for compensation from the MOD or not, there may be other ways that the Royal British Legion may be able to support you.
To find out more about the support the RBL could offer you, contact us via
Telephone: 0808 802 8080
Telephone overseas: +44 (0)20 3376 8080
Calls are free
from UK landlines and main mobile networks
Email: [email protected]
