3M Earplugs Lawsuit: Where Cases Stand in 2026

Last updated: July 2026

The 3M earplugs lawsuit is largely over. 3M agreed in August 2023 to pay $6.01 billion to resolve roughly 260,000 claims that its Combat Arms earplugs caused hearing loss and tinnitus in service members. As of July 2026, settlement payments are still going out, but the window to file new claims has closed for almost everyone.

If you served between 2003 and 2015, you probably used these earplugs. This guide explains what the litigation was about, how the settlement works, where payments stand today, and what veterans can still do in 2026.

What Was the 3M Earplug Lawsuit About?

The case centered on the Combat Arms Earplug Version 2 (CAEv2). Aearo Technologies designed it, and 3M sold it after buying Aearo in 2008. The military issued the dual-ended earplug widely from 2003 to 2015, including to troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Veterans alleged the earplug was too short to seal properly in some ears. They claimed it could loosen without the wearer noticing, letting in damaging noise from gunfire, aircraft, and explosions. The main injuries claimed were hearing loss and tinnitus, a constant ringing or buzzing in the ears.

The trouble surfaced publicly in 2018. 3M paid $9.1 million to the federal government to resolve a whistleblower case alleging it sold the earplugs to the military without disclosing design defects. 3M did not admit liability. That settlement paid the government, not individual service members, and it opened the door to a wave of personal injury filings.

How Did the 3M Earplug Litigation Unfold?

Individual veteran lawsuits were consolidated in 2019 into multidistrict litigation, MDL 2885, before Judge M. Casey Rodgers in the Northern District of Florida. At its peak the docket held more than 300,000 claims, making it the largest MDL in American history.

The bellwether trials shaped the outcome. Juries sided with veterans in 10 of 16 test cases, including a $77.5 million verdict for one Army veteran. Those results put heavy pressure on 3M to settle.

3M first tried a different route. In July 2022 it placed its Aearo subsidiary into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, hoping to resolve the claims there. A bankruptcy judge dismissed the case in June 2023, finding Aearo was not in genuine financial distress. Two months later, 3M announced the global settlement.

What Does the $6 Billion Settlement Include?

The settlement, announced in August 2023, totals $6.01 billion. It is structured as $5 billion in cash plus $1 billion in 3M stock, paid out in installments between 2023 and 2029.

Participation was nearly universal. By early 2024, more than 99 percent of eligible claimants had opted in. That mattered because 3M could have walked away if too few people joined. 3M denies the earplugs were defective and says the settlement is not an admission of liability.

There is no single payout number for everyone. Compensation depends on which payment track a claimant qualified for and how severe and well documented their injury is.

How Are Settlement Payments Being Made?

Payments run through three main channels. Here is how they compare.

Progress has been steady. By September 2025, roughly $2.78 billion had reportedly been paid to more than 231,000 claimants, and total distributions passed $3.1 billion by mid-2026 [VERIFY]. Point-based DPP awards began rolling out after October 2025 and are scheduled to continue in annual waves through 2029 [VERIFY].

If you are enrolled and waiting, timing depends on your track, your point score, and your law firm’s processing. Your attorney or the claims administrator can tell you where your claim sits in the queue.

Can You Still File a 3M Earplugs Lawsuit in 2026?

For nearly everyone, no. The settlement’s registration and claim deadlines have passed, and courts have cleared the MDL docket. Most law firms stopped taking new Combat Arms earplug cases well before 2026.

There are narrow theoretical exceptions, such as a person whose injury was genuinely undiscoverable until recently. Statutes of limitations vary by state and are unforgiving, so anyone in that rare position should speak to a mass tort attorney quickly. Expect a candid answer: new claims face very long odds.

Missing the lawsuit does not mean you have no options. VA disability benefits for hearing loss and tinnitus are separate from the settlement, and tinnitus remains one of the most common service-connected conditions veterans claim.

What Should Veterans Do Now?

Where you stand depends on whether you filed a claim.

• If you are enrolled in the settlement: Keep your contact and banking details current with your law firm. Respond fast to any document requests, since missing paperwork is a common cause of delay.
• If you already received an EPP payment: That payment generally resolved your claim in full. Check your release paperwork if you are unsure.
• If you never filed: Consider a VA disability claim for hearing loss or tinnitus. A hearing exam and your service records are the starting point.
• Watch for scams: Fraudsters target veterans with fake settlement notices. Legitimate updates come from your own attorney or the court-approved administrator, and no one legitimate will ask you to pay a fee to release your settlement money.

FAQ: 3M Earplug Settlement Questions

Is the 3M earplug lawsuit still active in 2026?

The litigation itself is essentially finished. More than 99 percent of claimants joined the $6 billion settlement announced in August 2023, and courts have dismissed the remaining docket. What continues in 2026 is the payment process. 3M is scheduled to keep making settlement payments in installments through 2029.

How much money are 3M earplug claimants receiving?

Payouts vary widely. The settlement uses a tiered system that scores each claim on hearing loss severity, tinnitus, medical documentation, and strength of proof. Some claimants accepted smaller expedited payments, while veterans with severe, well documented injuries qualified for larger awards through the Extraordinary Injury Fund. There is no single fixed amount per person.

Can I still file a 3M earplugs lawsuit?

For almost everyone, no. Registration and claim deadlines under the settlement have passed, and most law firms stopped accepting new Combat Arms earplug cases. If you believe your situation is unusual, a lawyer can review it, but you should not expect a new claim to succeed. VA disability benefits remain a separate option.

When will 3M finish paying the earplug settlement?

The settlement schedule runs through 2029. 3M agreed to pay $5 billion in cash and $1 billion in stock across annual installments. Early Payment Program claimants were largely paid first, while deferred and point-based awards are being distributed in waves. Individual timing depends on your payment track and your law firm’s processing.

Did 3M admit the earplugs were defective?

No. 3M has consistently denied that the Combat Arms Earplug Version 2 was defective and says the settlement is not an admission of liability. The company also paid $9.1 million in 2018 to resolve a government whistleblower case over the earplugs, again without admitting wrongdoing.

The Bottom Line

The 3M earplugs lawsuit grew into the largest mass tort in US history, and in 2026 its story is mostly about follow-through: billions already paid, billions more due by 2029, and a closed door for new claims. If you are enrolled, stay reachable and patient. If you missed the deadline, VA benefits are still worth pursuing.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, and deadlines and settlement terms can change. Talk to a licensed attorney about your specific situation.