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3M combat earplug litigation

Litigation alleged that 3M’s Combat Arms earplugs, standard issue from 2003 to 2015, were too short to seal properly and left service members with hearing loss and tinnitus.

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A pair of small dual-ended earplugs on dark canvas

What the litigation alleged

The dual-ended CAEv2 earplug could loosen imperceptibly in the ear canal, a defect the litigation alleged 3M knew about from its own testing. After bellwether trials produced repeated plaintiff verdicts, 3M agreed in 2023 to pay six billion dollars to resolve roughly a quarter million claims, one of the largest mass tort settlements ever.

The settlement program is winding down, but veterans with qualifying service and a recent diagnosis can still ask us to evaluate their options.

Injuries named in the litigation

  • Hearing loss
  • Tinnitus (constant ringing)
  • Auditory processing injury

Who may ask us to review

If you served between 2003 and 2015, used the issued Combat Arms earplugs, and suffer hearing loss or tinnitus, contact us for an honest assessment of what remains possible. The review is free and confidential.

Call (888) 391‑1315 or use the form for a free, confidential review. You pay attorney's fees only if we recover for you.