Non-Freezing Cold Injury Claims

Q: What is the time limit for making a NCFI claim?

The usual time limit for making a non-freezing cold injury claim is three years from the date your NFCI was diagnosed. Don’t leave it until you know your military career is over. As with any employer, the MoD can’t discriminate against you because you are claiming compensation. The earlier you contact us, the better.

Q: Can I claim if my condition was misdiagnosed as Raynaud’s?

Yes, you might have a claim in this situation—we are seeing increased numbers of personnel being misdiagnosed as having Raynaud’s, which has very similar symptoms. If you think your injury may be NFCI rather than Raynaud’s, please get in touch .

Get the support you need after suffering from a non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) while you were in the military—our solicitors pioneered such claims against the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

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Why choose Irwin Mitchell to make a compensation claim for a NFCI sustained in the military?

You are not alone if you’re wondering where to turn after a NFCI in the military, but don’t worry, our dedicated team of military lawyers are here to help. With unmatched experience in claims against the MoD, you can rely on us to help you put things right after your injury.

We have particular expertise helping soldiers from the Commonwealth. In these cases, we specialise in helping you also claim for loss of British residency following medical discharge.

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Meet a specialist from our team

Our market leading team will help you understand your rights, secure the compensation you’re owed, and access vital support – from rehabilitation to long-term care.

Simon Harrington

Partner & Deputy District Judge

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Meet our experts

Simon Harrington

Partner & Deputy District Judge

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Call us free on 0370 1500 100

Making an enquiry

We have several ways you can contact us, either by completing our online contact form, by phone, or using our live chat. If you start your journey online, here are the first steps to working together.

Complete our online form
We need a few details to understand your situation and the kind of support you need.
We’ll contact you by phone
On the call our experts will ask you a few more questions to make sure we connect you with the right legal advice from our team.
We arrange a full appointment
Your next step is an in-depth appointment with a specialist solicitor to discuss how we could advise you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Discover all you need to know about claiming for a NCFI sustained during military service—these are some of the most common questions ex-service personnel like you have asked in a similar situation.

What is a non-freezing cold injury?

A non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) is caused by long periods of exposure to cold conditions. NFCI is also known as immersion foot, but the general public is probably more familiar with the term “trench foot”.

NFCI symptoms include:

Pain
Skin discolouration
Numbness
Sensitivity to cold
Excessive sweating
Swelling

Military personnel are particularly at risk when operating in cold weather environments. In these conditions, activities that involve being stationary for a long time can increase risk. These can include:

Sentry duty
Manning an observation post
Setting an ambush
Navy divers working for long periods in cold water.

If you are Black, African, Caribbean or Black British, then the risks of you developing a NFCI are significantly higher.

The best treatment for experiencing NFCI symptoms is preventing them happening in the first place. Quick treatment is key to minimising the damage caused. Sadly, if there’s a delay in treating the injury, it will usually result in a medical discharge. You might be able to claim if this was the case.

Can I claim compensation for a NFCI?

This will depend on how your non-freezing cold injury happened.

NFCIs are almost entirely avoidable. While training and exercises are designed to simulate “the real thing”, this shouldn’t be at the expense of your health.

Our solicitors regularly deal with NFCI claims that are due to:

Lack of suitable kit
Lack of training for officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) to identify a NFCI
Failing to remove the affected individual from the cold/wet conditions, or not removing them early enough
Re-exposing individuals to cold conditions.

If you have developed a non-freezing cold injury, it’s likely that one of the factors above is responsible.

What is the time limit for making a NCFI claim?

Can I claim if my condition was misdiagnosed as Raynaud’s?

How much compensation will I get for a claim for a NCFI?

The amount of compensation you can claim for NFCI will depend on your individual circumstances.

Many non-freezing cold injuries are career-ending and can also affect your chances of getting a job after being discharged. Our solicitors are experts in this area and can help you claim the maximum amount of compensation available in your case.

We will calculate your claim based on factors that include your:

Pain and suffering
Ability to get a job after being discharged
Loss of earnings
Loss of pension
Loss of service benefits
Loss of British residency if you are a soldier from the Commonwealth.

Services to help with your claim

We can help with legal guidance and advice as well as other services you might need to aid your recovery and get your life back on track.

Support and Rehabilitation Co-ordinators
We'll make sure you get everything you need throughout the claims process
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About Irwin Mitchell
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Personal Injury Claims Guides
Answers to some frequently asked questions relating to personal injury claims.
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Irwin Mitchell Scotland

Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.