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3M Earplug Hearing Loss or Tinnitus

The earplugs trusted by the U.S. military to protect service members may have caused hearing problems

We are committed to helping U.S. service members who unknowingly risked their hearing. Contact us to talk through your situation and any potential legal options you may have.

If you are a veteran or current military service member, have used 3M Dual-Sided 3M Combat Arms Earplugs, and suffered full or partial hearing loss or tinnitus, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact us by phone at

Aircraft, artillery, guns, and explosives are sources of loud noise to which U.S. service members are often exposed. Frequent exposure to high-level noises can cause internal damage to the eardrums and hearing loss. The Dual-Sided 3M Combat Arms Earplugs (CAEv2) were the equipment used by U.S. service members to protect their hearing by filtering peak-level noises. However, the earplugs were defective and did nothing to protect soldiers from significant hearing loss, subjecting them to the risk of deafness

The 3M Combat Earplugs are green and yellow. The green side was supposed to block all sound and be capable of reducing very loud sounds such as explosions. The yellow side should allow quieter noise in, such as combat teams exchanging tactical information. However, the earplugs were ineffective. The defective product was too short and loosened in the ear canal, canceling any protective function it was supposed to have. As a result of its defects, 3M Combat Earplugs exposed more than 800,000 service members to the risk of full or partial hearing loss or tinnitus; and impaired the hearing of thousands of U.S. service members, including those deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Don’t let them get away with it: demand accountability! If you or someone you know has used the Dual-Sided 3M Combat Arms Earplugs and has been diagnosed with full or partial hearing loss or tinnitus, Knowles Law Firm PC will help you.

Who is Eligible to

a 3M Earplug Lawsuit?

You may be eligible to file a lawsuit if the following applies:

  • You used Dual-Sided 3M Combat Arms Earplugs;
  • Served in the U.S. Armed Forced between 2003 and 2015
  • Have been diagnosed with significant hearing loss and/or tinnitus
  • Hearing loss is full (complete) or partial (mild)

If all the above applies to you, you may be entitled to compensation for the hearing damage you have suffered.

How Much Can 3M Victims Receive?

Although it is impossible to estimate the average value of a claim, prior verdicts in cases involving hearing loss have been between $25,000 and $300,000 per person, and settlement payouts are likely less. The severity of the hearing loss will influence how much money veterans will ultimately be getting. Severe hearing damage will be valued higher than tinnitus-only lawsuits. This is speculation and not a guarantee concerning the outcome of a claim. The outcome of litigation is subject to factors that cannot always be foreseen


Knowles Law Firm, PC is committed to helping veterans and current military service members understand and pursue their legal rights, protecting them from corporations that place profits over people and their safety.

If you or someone you know has used the Dual-Sided 3M Combat Arms Earplugs and has been diagnosed with full or partial hearing loss or tinnitus, you may be entitled to compensation.

Contact us to talk through your situation and any potential legal options you may have. Call Knowles Law Firm at

Contact us for inquiries

Knowles Law Firm, PC will advocate for your rights.

United States

768 St. Andrews Blvd.
Charleston, SC 29407
USA

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Princes Margrietplantsoen 33
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