29 May 2026

Royal Artillery hearing loss claim: AS90, L118, and compensation for gunners

TL;DR

A Royal Artillery hearing loss claim is a civil claim against the MoD for noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus caused by exposure to artillery systems including AS90, L118, GMLRS, and mortars. All roles with proximity to firing are covered.
Artillery noise at gunner positions reaches 150 to 185 dB. The peak sound pressure limit above which no unprotected exposure should occur is 140 dB. Standard earplugs cannot bridge that gap for impulse noise from large-calibre weapons.
Abbott v Ministry of Defence [2026] EWHC 941 (KB) changed the diagnostic rules: a 4kHz audiogram notch is no longer required. Veterans assessed under the old framework and found to have no compensable loss should consider reassessment.
The Matrix Agreement scheme deadline is 31 July 2026. Claims registered by that date benefit from the MoD's duty of care concession and time-limit waiver. The initial assessment is free.

Royal Artillery personnel are among the most frequently represented groups in military hearing loss litigation. Exposure to artillery firing, whether on ranges in the UK or on operations overseas, generates noise levels that no standard hearing protection can fully attenuate. Where the MoD failed to provide suitable protection or to enforce its use, a Royal Artillery hearing loss claim is a civil claim that can be brought on a no-win, no-fee basis.

This page explains the specific noise risks in Royal Artillery service, how hearing loss claims are proved, what compensation is available, and what the 31 July 2026 deadline means for veterans who have not yet acted. The service trades page on this site covers the full range of roles assessed in claims.

What is a Royal Artillery hearing loss claim?

A Royal Artillery hearing loss claim is a civil negligence claim against the Ministry of Defence for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), tinnitus, or both, caused by service in the Royal Regiment of Artillery.

The claim rests on the MoD having owed a duty of care to protect service personnel from excessive noise and having breached that duty, whether by providing hearing protection inadequate for the noise levels involved, failing to enforce consistent use, or failing to reduce noise at source where reasonably practicable. All RA roles with proximity to artillery firing can give rise to a claim, including gun numbers, detachment commanders, forward observation officers, and fire support teams. The relevant question is the nature and duration of the individual's noise exposure, not their specific rank or trade.

The Crown Proceedings Act (Armed Forces) 1987 enables civil claims against the MoD for service injuries sustained on or after 15 May 1987. That date is the eligibility threshold for claims under this route.

Weapons systems and noise exposure in the Royal Artillery

Royal Artillery service involves some of the highest impulse noise levels encountered in any branch of the British Army.

Research published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America documents artillery noise at gunner positions as reaching 150 to 185 decibels. The noise at work regulations set the threshold requiring employer action at 85 dB for sustained exposure, and the peak sound pressure limit above which no unprotected exposure should occur at 140 dB. The gap between that limit and actual artillery muzzle noise is not bridgeable by standard hearing protection.

The L118 Light Gun (105mm) is a particular source of claims. MoD noise surveys established that personnel within 158 metres of the L118 when fired are exposed to peak sound pressure above 140 dB. In a live gun line with multiple pieces firing simultaneously, that zone covers most of the detachment. The AS90 (155mm self-propelled howitzer) generates comparable levels; its enclosed steel turret concentrates blast overpressure and reduces the space available for personnel to increase their distance from the noise source. GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) crews and mortar detachments are exposed to impulse noise from each launch, with close-range mortar firing during UK training exercises a documented source of hearing damage.

Scientific evidence on impulse noise and cochlear damage confirms that repeated high-peak-pressure events cause cumulative hearing damage that conventional sustained-noise models underestimate. This matters for artillery claimants because RA exposure is predominantly impulse-based rather than continuous.

Why was hearing protection often inadequate for artillery crews?

Standard foam earplugs provide approximately 20 to 30 dB of attenuation under ideal laboratory conditions and considerably less in operational field use. At a peak noise level of 185 dB, maximum attenuation leaves residual exposure far above the 140 dB limit.

The noise at work regulations required the MoD to select and issue protection specifically matched to the noise levels of the weapons and environments involved. Issuing general-purpose earplugs to crews firing large-calibre artillery without assessing their suitability for that impulse noise environment does not satisfy that obligation. Beyond selection, the MoD was required to train personnel in correct fitting and to enforce consistent use, including during rapid-fire sequences, when communication demands made wearing protection impractical, and across all positions on the gun line or in the vicinity of firing.

Veterans from RA service consistently report that protection was not worn during parts of live firing because it degraded verbal communication, was not issued to all personnel present, or was damaged and not replaced. Where those failures are documented through service records, training schedules, or witness accounts, they support the breach element of a claim.

What changed after Abbott v Ministry of Defence?

Abbott and Others v Ministry of Defence [2026] EWHC 941 (KB), handed down 24 April 2026, changed the diagnostic methodology for military NIHL claims. Mr Justice Garnham accepted the rM-NIHL method developed by Professor Moore, rejecting the CLB method previously preferred by the MoD.

The Abbott judgment found that military impulse noise commonly affects the 8kHz frequency and can erase or flatten the classic 4kHz notch that CLB required for a positive diagnosis. Under rM-NIHL, absence of a 4kHz notch no longer excludes a finding of military noise-induced hearing loss. For Royal Artillery veterans, this is directly relevant. High-impulse noise from large-calibre weapons is precisely the type that affects higher frequencies without producing a textbook 4kHz pattern. Veterans assessed under the old methodology and told their audiogram showed no compensable NIHL should consider requesting a reassessment under the new diagnostic framework.

What evidence supports a Royal Artillery hearing loss claim

The evidence in a Royal Artillery hearing loss claim draws on service records, expert audiology, and the claimant's account of their noise exposure history.

Service records should document units and postings, the weapons systems operated or served on, and where possible the number and nature of firing exercises attended. An independent audiologist carries out a hearing assessment under the rM-NIHL framework and prepares a report quantifying any hearing damage. A tinnitus questionnaire is completed where tinnitus is also claimed.

Settled cases give an indication of outcomes. An AWH case study records a £57,500 settlement for a 22-year veteran exposed to AS90 firing in Bosnia and to further noise during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. A second settlement of £25,000 involved a Royal Artillery veteran who served from 1995 to 2005, with Bosnia 1997 as the primary exposure period. These are specific case outcomes and do not represent typical or predicted results for other claimants.

How much does a Royal Artillery hearing loss claim pay?

A Royal Artillery hearing loss claim's general damages are assessed against the Judicial College Guidelines. The 17th edition (2024) brackets, as published on the site's compensation amounts page, are:

Condition	JCG 17th edition range
Slight tinnitus, no NIHL	£7,910 to £14,140
Mild tinnitus with mild NIHL	£14,140 to £17,330
Moderate tinnitus or NIHL, or one severe	£17,330 to £34,620
Severe tinnitus and severe NIHL	£34,620 to £52,420

The 18th edition of the Judicial College Guidelines, published in April 2026, carries an uplift across these categories. Confirm current figures with a specialist before relying on them for any individual estimate. Where both NIHL and tinnitus are present, the applicable bracket reflects the combined condition; an allowance is made to avoid double recovery for the same underlying exposure.

What special damages can you recover?

Special damages in a Royal Artillery hearing loss claim are assessed individually and can add considerably to the general damages figure.

The principal heads are: private hearing aids replaced every four to five years; loss of earnings where hearing damage led to medical downgrade, early discharge, or a career change; pension losses from shortened service; and tinnitus counselling costs. In cases where a long-term career in the armed forces or in a related occupation was curtailed by hearing damage, the earnings component can substantially exceed the general damages award. Under a Conditional Fee Agreement, the 25% success fee cap applies only to general damages and past losses. All future losses are paid in full and sit outside the cap.

Can you still claim if you wore ear defenders?

Yes. Wearing hearing protection during service does not prevent a Royal Artillery hearing loss claim if the protection provided was inadequate for the noise levels you were exposed to.

The MoD's duty under the noise at work regulations was not met by issuing any protection. The protection had to be suitable for the specific environment. Foam earplugs issued to gunners firing 155mm artillery do not meet that standard. Where protection was available but not consistently enforced, not provided at all positions on the gun line, or was worn incorrectly because training in its use was inadequate, those failures each represent a breach. Per Alma Law, the central question is not whether you wore something but whether what you were issued was appropriate for the noise levels involved and whether its use was properly managed.

How long do you have to make a Royal Artillery claim?

The limitation period is three years from the date of knowledge under section 14 of the Limitation Act 1980: the date on which you first knew your hearing damage was significant and attributable to your service. That is not the date of discharge from the Army.

Veterans who left the Royal Artillery years ago and only recently connected hearing difficulties to service firing exposure may still be in time. For the Matrix Agreement scheme, with its MoD time-limit waiver and duty of care concession, the registration deadline is 31 July 2026. You can confirm your position without obligation using the eligibility criteria on this site.

Starting your Royal Artillery hearing loss claim

If you served in the Royal Artillery and have hearing loss or tinnitus you believe is connected to that service, a free eligibility assessment is the first step.

The process begins with a short confidential call with a specialist. An independent audiologist then carries out a hearing assessment. Service records are obtained. A letter of claim is sent to the MoD under the pre-action protocol. Most claims settle without going to court. You pay nothing upfront and nothing if your claim is unsuccessful.

You can begin with a free assessment online or by telephone. Starting before 31 July 2026 preserves the option of registering within the Matrix Agreement scheme.

This page provides general information about Royal Artillery hearing loss claims. It is not legal advice. Whether a specific claim is in time or eligible depends on individual service records and medical evidence. Speak to a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.