Justice4Heroes Campaign Demands Equality in Military Hearing Loss Compensation
London, UK – A veteran’s group, Justice4Heroes, is demanding equality for thousands of former Armed Forces personnel who have suffered hearing loss during their service. The national campaign is calling for urgent legal reform to allow veterans discharged before 1987 to access the same compensation routes currently available to more recent veterans.
Crown immunity, a legal shield that prevented service personnel from bringing claims, was in place until 1987. When the law changed, it only applied to those still serving or discharged after the reform. This has left an entire generation of veterans with no legal route to seek redress for life-altering injuries sustained in the line of duty.
A spokesperson for Justice4Heroes said, “This is not just a legal issue. It’s a question of basic fairness. There should be no distinction between veterans injured in the same way, simply because of the date on their discharge papers.”
It is estimated that more than 300,000 veterans who served after 1987 are eligible to claim compensation. Many have already received amounts ranging from £10,000 to £20,000, with the highest award to date exceeding £700,000. Meanwhile, veterans who served in identical roles and suffered the same injuries before 1987 have been left with nothing.
The campaign also highlights the hypocrisy of commemorating events like the 80th anniversary of VE Day while neglecting veterans who served in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. Many of these individuals are now elderly and living with long-term hearing damage, without recognition or redress.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated, “We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay. They deserve dignity, fairness, and respect.” Yet, for thousands who served before 1987, those words still ring hollow. These men and women were prepared to sacrifice everything for their country. Now they are being sidelined by a system that draws arbitrary lines based on dates, not duty or injury.
Praising veterans in speeches and parades is not enough. True respect requires action. That starts with equal treatment for all veterans, regardless of when they served.
The Justice4Heroes petition has surpassed 10,000 signatures, triggering an official response from the UK Government. The next milestone is 100,000 signatures, which would prompt a formal debate in Parliament.
To sign the petition, visit: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/715800
If you or someone you know has hearing difficulties and left the Armed Forces after 1987, visit the Justice4Heroes website to see if you may be able to make a claim: www.justice4heroes.org
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.