The 3M Combat Arms earplug cases became one of the largest mass torts in U.S. history — hundreds of thousands of service members alleged the military earplugs left them with hearing loss. It ended in a roughly $6 billion settlement, and by 2026 the litigation had wound down. Here is what happened.
Resolved · Settled Without Admission of Liability
This article describes litigation that has been resolved. The claims that the earplugs were defective were contested; 3M denied the allegations and settled without admitting liability. This page is a historical explainer and is not legal or medical advice, and there is no open claim process.
What Was This About?
The 3M Combat Arms Earplug, version 2 (CAEv2), was a dual-ended earplug issued to U.S. service members for years, designed to block damaging noise while still allowing softer sounds like commands to be heard. Beginning in 2018, veterans and service members filed lawsuits alleging that the earplug was defectively designed — that it could loosen slightly in the ear and let harmful sound through without the user realizing it — and that 3M and its predecessor, Aearo Technologies, failed to warn about the issue. They alleged this contributed to hearing loss and tinnitus. 3M denied the allegations.The federal cases were consolidated into MDL No. 2885, In re: 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation, before U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers in the Northern District of Florida. It grew into one of the largest mass torts ever, with roughly 390,000 claims filed over its lifetime.
The ~$6 Billion Settlement
After years of litigation — including a series of bellwether trials that produced verdicts for both sides — 3M announced in 2023 that it would pay up to about $6 billion to resolve the claims: roughly $5 billion in cash and up to $1 billion in company stock, funded over several years. The company did not admit that the earplugs were defective. The settlement was structured to pay eligible claimants through programs administered over time, with the bulk of the money flowing to those who registered and qualified.By early 2026, billions of dollars had been distributed to claimants, and on the litigation side the MDL was dismissed — the roughly 390,000 filed cases closed out as the settlement moved into its administration and payout phase, which was scheduled to continue in later years. For how this compares with other large mass torts, see our MDL tracker.
Where Things Stand in 2026
The 3M earplug litigation is effectively over as a court fight: the settlement is in place, the MDL has been dismissed, and payments to qualifying claimants are being distributed on a schedule. There is no open claim process for new lawsuits. For veterans concerned about service-connected hearing loss more generally, benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are a separate matter from this product-liability settlement.Frequently Asked Questions
What was the 3M Combat Arms earplug lawsuit about?
Service members and veterans alleged that 3M's dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs (CAEv2) were defectively designed and could loosen in the ear, allowing damaging sound through, and that this caused hearing loss and tinnitus. They alleged 3M and its predecessor Aearo failed to warn about the problem. 3M denied the allegations. The claims were consolidated in MDL 2885.
How much was the 3M earplug settlement?
In 2023, 3M agreed to pay up to about $6 billion — roughly $5 billion in cash and up to $1 billion in 3M stock — to resolve the litigation, with payments scheduled over several years. 3M did not admit liability. By 2026, billions had been distributed and the MDL was dismissed.
Can I still file a 3M earplug claim?
No. The settlement resolved the claims that were part of the litigation, the registration windows have closed, and by 2026 the MDL had been dismissed with the remaining cases closed. There is no open claim process for new 3M earplug lawsuits.
Sources
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida — 3M Products Liability Litigation (MDL 2885), flnd.uscourts.gov• U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation — MDL 2885 statistics, jpml.uscourts.gov
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