Strong Medical Evidence Is Becoming Critical in UK Military Injury Claims

In a significant development for military compensation claims in the UK, multiple former service personnel recently achieved high-value settlements against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for noise-induced hearing loss. These outcomes, resolved ahead of trial at the High Court, reflect wider trends in military injury litigation and emphasise the central role of high-quality medical evidence in securing fair compensation. 

Significant Settlements in Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Claims

In October 2025, a series of military hearing loss cases — some involving personnel who served across multiple operational theatres — were settled with the MoD for substantial amounts. One claimant received £182,250, while others achieved awards that, cumulatively, exceeded £700,000. According to published reports, these settlements — negotiated before full trial — set precedents for how such claims may be valued and resolved going forward. 

These cases are part of a larger cohort of around 10,000 former service members pursuing claims against the MoD for noise-induced injury, a trend that underscores the volume and complexity of military injury litigation.

Why Medical Evidence Matters in Military Claims

Military injury claims — whether for hearing loss, training-related injuries, or conditions with latent onset — depend fundamentally on establishing clinical causation, impact and service linkage that withstands legal scrutiny. This places medical evidence at the heart of successful outcomes.

Key challenges in military claims include:

• Demonstrating that an injury was caused or materially aggravated by service conditions.

• Quantifying the functional and lifestyle impact of an injury in ways relevant to compensation frameworks.

• Supporting legal teams with clear, evidence-based opinions aligned to litigation strategy.

This is where medico-legal reporting from specialist clinical professionals delivers real value — providing legal teams with defensible, unbiased evaluations that support negotiation, settlement and trial readiness.

MLA’s Role in Supporting Military Injury Litigation

At MLA, we provide tailored medico-legal reporting services for military claims that require:

• Detailed clinical assessment linked to legal inquiry

• Expert interpretation of injury mechanisms and service exposures

• Robust documentation suitable for compensation schemes, tribunals and courts

• Seamless case management and report delivery

Our clinicians and case managers understand the specific evidential requirements of complex claims, including those involving noise-induced injury and other service-related conditions. We help ensure that medical perspectives are articulated clearly, defensibly and in ways that align with legal strategy.

Maximising Impact in Military Claims

For legal professionals, solicitors and claims teams handling military injury cases, strong medical evidence often determines the trajectory of a claim — from initial instruction through to successful settlement or judgment. As this wave of MoD hearing loss settlements demonstrates, investment in high-quality reporting is not just beneficial — it’s essential.

To learn more about how MLA supports military injury claims with expert reporting and tailored case management, contact our team today.

Sources 

1. Hugh James — Ministry of Defence settles four military hearing loss claims ahead of trial (2025) Hugh James

2. Multiple media outlets — Former servicemen settle legal claims for more than £700,000 over hearing loss (2025) Yahoo News UK