Estimated read time: 2 minutes
One of the most common reasons service personnel and veterans don’t pursue compensation is the belief that they’ve “left it too long.” But in many cases, that simply isn’t true.
Military injury claims—whether for hearing loss, cold injuries, or training accidents—are usually subject to a three-year time limit. However, that time limit doesn’t necessarily start when the injury occurred. Instead, it often begins from what the law calls the “date of knowledge.”
What is the ‘Date of Knowledge’?
The date of knowledge is the point at which you knew—or reasonably should have known—that:
- You had a significant injury, and
- That injury was likely caused by your service.
Why It Matters
You might have been injured in 2015 but only realised in 2023 that your hearing damage was due to service. In that case, your three-year window to bring a claim may run from 2023—not 2015.
What Should You Do?
If you’re unsure when your time limit started, get legal advice straight away. At Nexa Law, we regularly act for clients who thought they were out of time—only to find that their claim was still valid.
Don’t assume the door is closed. Talk to our team and find out where you stand.