Compensation claims by injured troops hit new record six years after major combat ­ops ended

COMPENSATION claims by injured troops have hit a new record — six years after major combat ­operations ended.

Official figures show 2,796 servicemen and women launched legal action against the MoD last year, the most in a decade.

The vast majority were for delayed hearing loss caused by noise on the battlefield or at rifle ranges.

Defence chiefs are facing a £100million compensation bill from troops suffering post-combat deafness alone.

Labour seized on the stats to attack moves to put a six-year time limit on claims against the MoD for injuries suffered overseas.

They claim new laws aimed at protecting British troops from legal witch-hunts will make it harder for them to win a payout.

Ministers insist the reforms are aimed at curbing the “industrial level of claims” from foreign nationals.

But over the past five years just 14 Iraqi citizens have lodged claims, compared with 9,302 members of the Armed Forces.

Shadow defence secretary John Healey said the legislation was “crude cost-cutting” to protect MoD ­budgets rather than safeguard troops from vexatious legal claims.

But Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said: “The time limits will not prevent personnel from being able to access the compensation they deserve.”