Product Liability · 3M Combat Arms Earplugs
3M Combat Arms Earplugs
$6.01 billion global settlement — the largest mass tort in U.S. history
3M Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEv2) were issued to U.S. service members between roughly 2003 and 2015 as protection against combat noise. Litigation established that a design flaw could allow the earplugs to loosen imperceptibly, exposing service members to noise levels the plugs were supposed to block. In August 2023, 3M announced a $6.01 billion global settlement resolving the vast majority of claims. This page is provided as historical background — new intake is limited.
Background
What this litigation is about.
The Combat Arms Earplug Version 2 (CAEv2) was originally designed by Aearo Technologies (later acquired by 3M). It was a dual-ended plug intended to give service members a choice between blocking all noise or filtering out combat impulse noise while still allowing them to hear commands.
Plaintiffs alleged that the earplugs' stem was too short to maintain a proper seal in many wearers' ear canals — and that internal testing showed this, but the product was sold to the U.S. military anyway without a warning to fold back the opposing flanges. Service members reported hearing loss and tinnitus after using them in training and combat.
MDL 2885, based in the Northern District of Florida before Judge M. Casey Rodgers, became one of the largest mass torts in U.S. history — with roughly 260,000 cases at its peak. After a series of bellwether trials that produced a mix of verdicts (many for plaintiffs), 3M and its Aearo subsidiary announced a $6.01 billion global settlement on August 29, 2023, resolving substantially all Combat Arms claims. Deadlines to participate have largely passed.
Reported injuries
Complications documented in this litigation.
Hearing loss
Partial or full loss of hearing tied to unprotected exposure to combat or training noise.
Tinnitus
Persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears.
Hyperacusis
Painful sensitivity to normal sound levels.
Balance disorders
Vestibular symptoms sometimes reported alongside auditory injury.
Who may qualify
An honest self-check.
You served in the U.S. military between roughly 2003 and 2015.
You were issued or used 3M Combat Arms Version 2 (dual-ended, yellow/olive) earplugs.
You were later diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus tied to service.
Note: the global settlement's participation deadlines have largely passed; new-claim options are limited.
Key events
A timeline of what has happened so far.
1999–2015
3M/Aearo sells Combat Arms Earplug Version 2 to the U.S. military.
2016
Whistleblower qui tam action filed alleging 3M knew of the design defect.
2018
3M settles the qui tam claim with the federal government for $9.1 million (no admission of liability).
Apr 2019
JPML consolidates federal Combat Arms cases as MDL 2885 in the Northern District of Florida.
2021–2023
Bellwether trials produce a series of verdicts; the docket grows to roughly 260,000 cases.
Aug 29, 2023
3M announces a $6.01 billion global settlement to resolve substantially all Combat Arms claims.
2024–2025
Settlement administration and payouts to enrolled claimants.
Because the 3M settlement is largely closed, we generally cannot take new Combat Arms cases. This page is provided as background for service members and families researching what happened.
Frequently asked
Questions answered plainly.
Information current as of 2026. This page is for general information only, is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case statuses, MDL orders, and settlement terms change; call our office for a current review of your specific situation.
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