Arkansas 3M Combat Arms Earplug Lawsuit Lawyer

The 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 were issued to the U.S. military between 2003 and 2015 with the purpose of suppressing noises up to 190 decibels. The dual-ended design was meant to provide two different types of ear canal protection – one side for blocking out all sound, and one side for blocking sound only known to significantly affect hearing, like explosions and gunfire. These earplugs failed to protect servicemembers because they did not reach far enough into the ear to protect it.

Because the earplugs do not insert properly into all ears, they loosen and shift during use, allowing destructive sounds to enter the ear canal. 3M and Aearo Technologies, Inc., 3M’s predecessor, were aware that the earplug was not long enough to ensure necessary protection, but sold them anyway without proper disclosure to the government or users.

3M’s defective product and lack of disclosure caused physical harm for servicemembers, who now have the opportunity to be compensated for their injuries. The 3M Combat Arms Earplugs cause tinnitus, or continuous ringing in the ear, significant hearing damage and permanent hearing loss for United States veterans. These symptoms can appear or worsen over time.