Military Deafness Claims AJAX Tinnitus Case

An important Court of Appeal decision concerning military deafness, tinnitus and acoustic shock is now awaited following a hearing involving the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and a former British Army soldier.

The case, Bevan v Ministry of Defence, concerns allegations that excessive noise exposure during testing of the British Army’s AJAX armoured vehicles caused serious hearing problems and associated psychological injury.

The appeal was heard on 7 October 2026, and judgment is awaited. The outcome could have significant implications for military personnel pursuing compensation claims for tinnitus, acoustic shock and noise-related hearing injuries.

What is the AJAX Military Vehicle Case About?

AJAX is a multibillion-pound British Army programme involving the development of a new generation of armoured reconnaissance vehicles.

However, the project has attracted considerable criticism following reports that soldiers testing the vehicles experienced excessive noise, vibration and hearing-related symptoms.

A Ministry of Defence investigation into AJAX noise and vibration published in December 2021 identified 310 personnel who had been exposed to noise and vibration during the programme.

The MOD acknowledged that AJAX exposure might have contributed to hearing problems in some personnel, although individual causation had not been established.

Why Was the Original Military Deafness Claim Dismissed?

The claimant, a former soldier, alleged that exposure to excessive noise while working with AJAX vehicles between 2017 and 2020 caused tinnitus and associated psychological injury.

Importantly, the MOD admitted that it had breached its duty of care by exposing the soldier to unsafe noise levels.

However, the High Court dismissed the claim in May 2025 because it was not satisfied that the admitted negligence had caused the injuries alleged.

The Court considered medical evidence relating to acoustic shock, including the Grindleford Criteria, a published diagnostic framework used when assessing this type of injury.

The claimant subsequently appealed.

Why Could the Court of Appeal Judgment Be Important?

The appeal raises questions about the medical evidence required to establish that excessive noise exposure has caused tinnitus or acoustic shock.

Although military noise-induced hearing loss is a recognised occupational injury, establishing the precise cause of tinnitus can sometimes be more complicated, particularly where conventional hearing tests do not demonstrate significant hearing loss.

The Court of Appeal’s consideration of the medical evidence may therefore provide important guidance for future claims.

The case could be relevant not only to soldiers exposed to noise from AJAX vehicles but also to military personnel who have suffered hearing problems following exposure to weapons, explosions, military machinery or communication headsets.

However, the outcome will depend on the Court’s findings and the scope of its judgment.

The Court of Appeal hearing can be viewed online.

Can Military Personnel Claim Compensation for Tinnitus and Hearing Loss?

Serving and former members of the Armed Forces may be entitled to compensation where they can establish that negligent exposure to excessive noise caused hearing damage.

Military hearing loss compensation claims can involve:

• Noise-induced hearing loss following weapons training or operational duties.
• Persistent tinnitus caused by excessive military noise.
• Acoustic trauma following exposure to exceptionally loud sounds.
• Acoustic shock associated with communication headsets.
• Psychological consequences arising from an established noise-related injury.

Each case must be considered individually, including the nature of the exposure, medical evidence, causation and applicable limitation periods.

Specialist Military Deafness Compensation Solicitors

At R. James Hutcheon Solicitors, we have over 30 years’ experience in personal injury litigation, including complex claims involving serious injuries and disputed medical causation. The writer and senior Solicitor Mr Ronnie Hutcheon has been dealing with industrial deafness claims since 1988, dealing with claims against British Coal, Ford Motor Company, Ship Building Companies, Builders, Steel Workers, Contractors, road workers using pneumatic machinery and of course military personnel.

We recognise that hearing loss and tinnitus can have a substantial impact on everyday life, employment and future earning capacity.

For former military personnel, hearing difficulties may also affect civilian employment opportunities following discharge from the Armed Forces. It must be remembered that when hearing has been damaged due to noise this is made worse people age as when people get older, their hearing also deteriorates, so both noise damage and age related loss can make matters worse.

If you have developed tinnitus or hearing loss following service in the British Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force, we can review your circumstances and advise whether you may have grounds to pursue a military deafness compensation claim.

Where appropriate, claims may be pursued under a No Win, No Fee agreement.

We will provide a further update when the Court of Appeal delivers its judgment in the AJAX military tinnitus case.