Military Hearing Loss Matrix Register deadline extended to 31 January 2027

The deadline for service personnel and veterans to join the Military Hearing Loss Matrix Register has been extended to 31 January 2027.

The Military Hearing Loss Matrix was established following litigation brought by current and former members of the Armed Forces. The extension follows the High Court's judgment in the Abbott test cases, which clarified a number of key issues affecting military hearing loss claims.

Joining the Matrix Register does not determine whether a claim will ultimately succeed. The legal issues remain complex. However, it enables eligible claimants to benefit from the procedures and protections available under the Matrix Agreement. 

Dianne Yates, Director at Hilary Meredith Solicitors, said: 

"The extension is welcome because it gives more service personnel and veterans the opportunity and time to seek legal advice on military hearing loss and tinnitus.

"Anyone who believes they may have suffered hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of their military service should seek specialist legal advice as soon as possible. 

"Many people simply accept hearing loss or tinnitus as part of military life. Where those conditions have resulted from military service, it is important that individuals understand the options available to them."

The Abbott judgment 

The judgment considered several test cases and addressed key medico-legal issues which will influence how thousands of military hearing loss claims are assessed going forward. 

What did the Court decide?

The Court did not introduce a new legal test. Claimants must still prove, on the balance of probabilities, that they have suffered hearing loss and that it was caused by noise exposure during service. 

However, the judgment provides important guidance on how those issues should be approached in practice. 

In particular, the Court moved away from rigid or formulaic methods of diagnosing NIHL. Instead, the court emphasised that each case must be assessed on its own facts, with careful consideration of all available evidence.

Diagnosis of hearing loss 

The Court confirmed that there is no single “gold standard” method for diagnosing noise induced hearing loss. However, in respect of military claims, the Court preferred the claimant’s methodology for assessing and quantifying hearing loss over that advanced by the MoD 

Rather than relying on a single test or model, experts must consider the full clinical picture, including:

• Any clinical audiograms plus any in-service hearing test results

• The individual’s history of noise exposure

• The pattern of hearing loss

• Other potential causes, such as age-related hearing loss

This means that diagnosis is a matter of professional clinical judgment, supported by evidence, rather than a simple tick box exercise.

Military noise is different

Importantly, the Court recognised that military noise exposure is not the same as industrial noise. Exposure to weapons fire and explosions involves high-intensity, impulsive noise, which may affect hearing differently from continuous workplace noise. 

The role of audiograms

Audiograms remain central to assessing hearing loss, but the Court made clear that they are not decisive on their own. 

For example, the absence of a classic “notch” on a hearing test does not automatically rule out NIHL. However, it may make a claim more difficult to establish, depending on the overall evidence.

Causation must be proven

The Court reinforced that exposure to noise alone is not enough.

Claimants must show not only that they have hearing loss, but that it was caused by noise exposure during their service, rather than other factors such as ageing or post-service noise exposure. 

This places greater emphasis on the quality of expert evidence and the need for a clear, reasoned explanation of how the deafness has been caused.

Scientific theories and emerging research

The judgment also considered developing areas of scientific research, including theories such as “hidden hearing loss” and the suggestion that noise exposure may accelerate age-related hearing loss.

The Court found that, at present, these theories are not supported by sufficiently robust evidence to be relied upon in litigation.

What about tinnitus?

The Court accepted that tinnitus, ringing in the ears, can be caused by noise exposure.

However, it made clear that tinnitus on its own does not establish noise induced hearing loss. Each case must still be supported by appropriate evidence linking the condition to noise exposure. The closer the onset of tinnitus is in time to the exposure to dangerous noise, the more likely it is to be caused by it. 

What does this mean for claimants?

Claims supported by clear evidence of hearing loss and a well-reasoned expert opinion on causation remain strong.

However:

• There will be greater scrutiny of expert evidence

• Claims relying on limited or unclear evidence may face more difficulty

How we can help

At Hilary Meredith Solicitors, we specialise in representing members of the Armed Forces and veterans in hearing loss claims and with decades of experience in bringing cases against the MoD are uniquely placed to assist those who may have suffered hearing loss or tinnitus because of military service.

If you believe you may have suffered hearing loss or tinnitus because of your military service, we can advise you on your options and whether you may have a valid claim.

Get in touch

If you would like to discuss a potential claim, please contact our team for a free, no obligation consultation.