No, new 3M earplug claims are no longer being filed. Registration closed and active Combat Arms Earplug litigation has ended.
The cases involved dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2, earplugs issued to U.S. service members and linked to hearing loss and tinnitus claims. 3M agreed to pay $6.0 billion from 2023 through 2029 to resolve the litigation, according to its August 2023 settlement announcement.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Cloudfront — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the official notice from 3M — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- Who the settlement covered
- Why are new claims closed?
- How do payments work through 2029?
- What did the settlement not decide?
Who the settlement covered
The program covered U.S. service members and veterans who alleged hearing loss or tinnitus from dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2.
3M said more than 293,000 claims were at issue, with over 249,000 registrants participating in its March 2024 update. Only enrolled claimants receive distributions. A 2026 Legal Desire status review reports that most law firms stopped accepting new Combat Arms cases after the claim deadlines passed.
Why are new claims closed?
3M set March 25, 2024 as the final registration date. Participation then exceeded 99% of claimants and the program moved to final resolution, as 3M reported in its January and March 2024 settlement updates.
📨 Get Free Mass Tort Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Consolidated litigation has also ended. DrugWatch reported in its October 2026 litigation update that zero lawsuits remained pending out of about 391,221 filings in MDL No. 2885 in the Northern District of Florida.
How do payments work through 2029?
Payments continue on a rolling schedule through 2029, not as one lump sum. Individual amounts turn on medical records and program points, according to Defense News and Associated Press settlement coverage. For enrolled claimants, that means timing and amount vary by file:.
- medical records support the hearing injury claim
- program points place the claim in a payment tier
- completed enrollment controls access to distributions
What did the settlement not decide?
The $6 billion deal is not an admission of liability. 3M stated the earplugs are safe and effective when used properly, as reported by Army Times in August 2023.
The litigation traces to July 2018, when the Justice Department announced 3M would pay $9.1 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations involving undisclosed CAEv2 defects. Anyone now offered a new CAEv2 filing should verify enrollment status before signing a fee agreement.
You Might Also Like
- Zantac Lawsuit Update: Is the Cancer Claim Still Open?
- Spinal Cord Stimulator Lawsuit Settlements Explained for MDL Claims
- Hip Implant Lawsuit Settlement: How Causation Is Proven?