Wales Online has reported on a soldier who has been rewarded a huge pay-out after suffering from hearing loss and anxiety.
Thomas Borley, 33, was serving as an Armoured Cavalry soldier when his time was cut short in 2016 due to ‘faulty equipment within the firing ranges, where regular training sessions took place. As a result, he developed noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.
When Thomas originally put in a claim, he placed it through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) where he was rewarded just £6000. After feeling like this was an unsatisfactory amount, he took his claim to Irwin Mitchell solicitors. In response to this, the Ministry of Defence denied liability but agreed to a £300,000 out-of-court settlement.
Thomas plans to use this money to pay for and access specialist therapies he requires. This will help for funding for a new job. He has said “After being diagnosed with hearing loss and losing my career, I did not know what to do for a long time. But I have had so much support to help me get my life back on track and I can finally begin to look to the future without uncertainty and worry.
The experience was a daunting and personal one, but I was made to feel at ease. I also felt completely involved while at the same time being able to carry on my life as normal as the team was doing all the hard work in the background.”
Thomas enrolled in the army at age 23 in 2012 with a dream of becoming a Staff Sergeant. However, due to leaving the army after only 4 years with noise-induced hearing loss, he was unable to accomplish his dream.
Specialist military injury lawyer, Carol Purang at Irwin Mitchell solicitors said “Unfortunately one of the shortcomings of the AFCS scheme for deafness claims is that it rarely provides for an award greater than £6,000 and so a civil claim is usually always the better route and allowed us to recover losses for Tom’s lost future earnings and pension for his lost career.
Through our work, we come across many people who have sustained or developed injury because of their time in the military. While nothing can make up for what Tom has suffered, including losing his career, we are pleased to have been able to help secure him settlement which will allow him to move forward with his life as best he can.”
Read the full article here
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