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A former Royal Marine involved in a lawsuit against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for hearing loss has revealed that he and his colleagues manipulated hearing tests with the assistance of military medics in order to be deployed for duty. Christopher Lambie is just one of approximately 10,000 former military personnel pursuing legal action against the MoD for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). His case is one of four test cases currently ongoing at the High Court, the outcomes of which could influence the compensation awarded to others. Prior to the commencement of the proceedings, retired Lt Col Andrew Davies settled his claim for £182,250.
Although the MoD acknowledges its responsibility in ensuring the welfare of personnel, it contests the severity of hearing loss experienced by some individuals. Mr. Lambie, aged 45, is seeking damages exceeding £400,000; however, the MoD has proposed a settlement of approximately £58,000, arguing that his hearing impairment has had no significant or future financial repercussions. Joining the Royal Marines in 1998, Mr. Lambie was diagnosed with NIHL in 2002 and expressed disappointment at the lack of measures implemented to shield him from excessive noise exposure.
During the deployment preparation for Afghanistan in 2011, members of Mr. Lambie’s unit underwent hearing assessments, which he acknowledges as crucial for their operational readiness. Despite initially failing the test, he managed to pass on a retake by observing the testing process and promptly responding. In his testimony, Mr. Lambie disclosed that medics facilitated the unit in passing medical evaluations, illustrating the priority for the MoD to deploy as many personnel as possible. Having transitioned into a career as a defence and security consultant following his discharge in 2021, Mr. Lambie maintains that cheating the tests was a common strategy among unit members.
At a hearing last year, the MoD reversed its stance by recognizing its duty of care to former service members, a position it had previously disputed. While acknowledging the correlation between military service and hearing impairment, the MoD remains in disagreement over the specific circumstances surrounding individual cases. Additionally, the MoD highlighted improvements in hearing protection practices to prevent future noise-related ailments within the Armed Forces. As the legal battle unfolds, thousands of military veterans are pursuing litigation against both the MoD and an earplug manufacturer for faulty ear protection issued during their service
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