Who Is Eligible for the 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit?
Hearing loss is common among U.S. military veterans with more than 1.3 million veterans eligible for disability benefits due to hearing loss in 2020. More than 2.3 million veterans also collect disability for tinnitus. The implementation of combat earplugs was meant to protect soldiers from hearing loss in combat environments and legal claims point to the 3M Company knowingly supplying defective combat earplugs to veterans – which has led to more than 275,000 lawsuits. Many veterans who suffer from hearing loss want to know – who is eligible for the 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit? We can help answer your questions at VABenefits Attorneys.
What Is the 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit?
The lawsuit alleges that the company supplied defective earplugs to active duty service members who served from 2003 to 2016. The product liability claim alleges that the design of the CAEv2 combat earplugs was defective, there was a defective manufacturing process, the product was not labeled correctly with instructions and that test results for the CAEv2 earplugs were falsified by the company. Almost 300,000 lawsuits have been filed against 3M by veterans and civilians due to defective earplugs as of January 2022.
These factors were alleged to have led to exposure to high decibel levels of sound in training and combat that resulted in hearing loss, tinnitus and additional hearing-related injuries like loss of balance. Veterans who may be eligible to file a lawsuit would have served in Iraq or Afghanistan between 2003 and 2016 and were issued 3M CAEv2 combat earplugs within that time frame. If you served in the military in that time period – whether in combat or training – and you were issued combat earplugs, there is a chance you used defective earplugs.
How To Prove Your Claim Against 3M
Did you suffer hearing loss or tinnitus in the military? Were you issued 3M CAEv2 Combat Arms Earplugs for training or combat? You may be eligible to file a lawsuit against 3M for your hearing loss. VABenefits Attorneys can help you determine if you are eligible to file a lawsuit. To prove your case, you will need three primary documents – your DD214 or official service record, your Veterans Administrative record and any medical records or documents that establish you suffered hearing loss, tinnitus or loss of balance due to defective earplugs.
When Do You Need to File Your 3M Lawsuit?
Veterans who have suffered hearing loss due to defective earplugs want to know – is there still time to file a lawsuit against 3M? The time period to file a lawsuit will vary by state and is controlled by state laws. VABenefits Attorneys can help you determine if there is still time to file a lawsuit. Legal precedents established by – Discovery Rule and Equitable Estoppel – may extend the statute of limitations in the case. The majority of lawsuits against 3M are still in the early stages and appeals by the company are not expected to be decided until mid-2023.
How Much Will 3M Lawsuit Payouts Be?
A specific payout for 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuits has not yet been determined – but most payouts have ranged from $50,000 to $400,000 with a few lawsuits seeing much higher payouts. Successful lawsuits that have been tried in court have awarded compensation and damages in amounts of $2.36 million, $1.1 million, $8.2 million, $12.8 million, $22 million and $55 million. To date – the company has won five court cases and veteran plaintiffs have won seven.
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Veterans who have suffered hearing loss or tinnitus in training or combat may have heard of the 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit and many want to know – who is eligible for the 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit? We have the answers you need at VABenefits Attorneys and we are here to help you determine if you should file your own lawsuit. Contact VABenefits Attorneys today for more information on disability ratings, claim denials and more!
