| Each year the number of U.S. veterans | | | | symptoms of mild TBI. |
| increases as soldiers returning from | | | | * No treatments currently exist to cure |
| America's most recent wars come home. | | | | long-lasting symptoms of TBI. |
| However, as the survivors are welcomed | | | | Flawed Brain Injury Technology |
| home after pursuing a dutiful career | | | | Unfortunately, as budgets are cut, the |
| serving their country, a new generation | | | | quality of care and technology also |
| of men and women suffering from mild- to | | | | decreases. Most recently the Government |
| severe-traumatic brain injuries (TBI) | | | | Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed |
| are greeted with battled medical budgets | | | | nine Veterans Affairs (VA) medical |
| and flawed TBI technologies, which don't | | | | centers and found that the TBI-screening |
| provide the necessary services and | | | | test's validity and reliability may be |
| treatments required to improve their | | | | flawed. |
| newly developed disabilities. | | | | Additionally, the report found that |
| With an average of 1.4 million Americans | | | | soldiers with TBI may be receiving |
| undergoing some form of TBI, the number | | | | inadequate or unnecessary care for their |
| of scientists and researchers striving | | | | brain injuries, according to an |
| to cure these individuals should be ever | | | | Associated Press article from January |
| increasing, however, dwindling budgets | | | | 2008. The report found that: |
| continue to compress and squeeze | | | | * Although the VA has implemented TBI |
| war-related brain injury funding. In | | | | screening tools, the validity and |
| 2006, the U.S. House and Senate slashed | | | | reliability of the tool has not yet been |
| the allocated funding for the Defense | | | | established. |
| and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) | | | | * The VA has implemented a protocol to |
| in half from the previous year. | | | | ensure soldiers testing positive for TBI |
| Traumatic brain injury has been deemed | | | | are adequately treated; however, many of |
| the "signature" injury of the Iraq war, | | | | the VA's medical facilities either did |
| according to military doctors and | | | | not follow the protocol or had |
| experts. It is imperative for struggling | | | | difficulty doing so. |
| soldiers to find assistance with their | | | | * Culturally, the VA has found that Iraq |
| TBI-related disability. | | | | veterans feel the VA and its facilities |
| What is TBI? | | | | cater to elderly veterans and do not |
| Traumatic brain injury is defined as an | | | | want to treat young veterans. |
| injury that occurs after an abrupt | | | | * The VA is struggling with poor rural |
| trauma causes damage to the brain, | | | | access to medical centers as well as |
| according to the National Institute of | | | | poor turnout rates for injured vets who |
| Neurological Disorders and Stroke | | | | in some cases must drive 100 miles plus |
| (NINDS). War-related TBI can occur in | | | | to reach a nearby VA hospital. |
| many ways and individuals suffering from | | | | Living With TBI |
| this and related side effects will find | | | | Veterans who are currently living with |
| symptoms vary on a case-by-case | | | | TBI will find that not only does TBI |
| diagnosis. | | | | affect them, but the ripple effect among |
| Researchers and scientists are, however, | | | | an injured veteran's family and friends |
| finding several repetitive conditions | | | | is quite extensive. There are an array |
| and symptoms among TBI victims. The | | | | of clinical trials that a TBI victim can |
| common signs and symptoms of these | | | | become involved in to improve the living |
| war-related conditions are as followed, | | | | conditions as well as to treat the |
| according to a studies published in the | | | | symptoms of TBI. Some of these clinical |
| medical journals of Neuropsychology and | | | | trials can be found through the |
| Brain Injury: | | | | following organizations Web sites: |
| * cognitive issues *decreased attention | | | | * National Institute of Neurological |
| span, including focused, selective and | | | | Disorders and Stroke - Brain Resources |
| sustained attention problems *language | | | | and Information Network (BRAIN) |
| difficulties | | | | * Acoustic Neuroma Association Brain |
| * lack of motivation *inability to | | | | Trauma Foundation |
| efficiently process information | | | | * Brain Injury Association of America |
| * irritability *depression and anxiety | | | | Family Caregiver Alliance/National |
| * increased fatigue *headaches *memory | | | | Center on Caregiving National |
| loss or disturbance | | | | Rehabilitation Information Center |
| * behavioral issues | | | | (NARIC) |
| * disrupted sleep | | | | * National Stroke Association |
| * post traumatic stress disorder | | | | * National Institute on Disability and |
| In May 2006, the co-founder of the DVBIC | | | | Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) |
| testified to a Senate subcommittee that | | | | Finding Brain Injury Assistance |
| while "body armor may save troops caught | | | | There are several organizations |
| in blasts it leaves many with brain | | | | available to offer assistance |
| damage," according to a USA Today news | | | | specifically to those with war-related |
| report. Additionally, the article cited | | | | ailments. The following are several of |
| several disturbing statistics on the | | | | the leading organizations/hospitals: |
| state of TBI and war veterans. | | | | * Walter Reed Army Medical Center |
| * 10 percent of all troops in Iraq | | | | Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center |
| suffer from concussions during combat. | | | | * Defense Center of Excellence for |
| * 20 percent of all frontline infantry | | | | Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain |
| troops suffer from concussions during | | | | Injury |
| combat. | | | | * National Intrepid Center of Excellence |
| *Scientists believe the Pentagon must | | | | Deployment Health Clinical Center |
| screen all troops returning from Iraq. | | | | *Center for Study of Traumatic Stress |
| *The Pentagon has declined screenings | | | | Center for Deployment Psychology |
| for all returning troops and only screen | | | | * The Department of Defense (DoD) also |
| a small population of soldiers. | | | | offers a search component through their |
| *If left untreated or untested, multiple | | | | Web site to assist veterans in finding a |
| head injuries and concussions can cause | | | | veteran hospital in their geographic |
| permanent brain injury. | | | | area. |
| Also, several equally disturbing | | | | Additionally, individuals enduring the |
| statistics have been reported from | | | | pain of a war-related brain injury are |
| several specialized journals including | | | | encouraged to locate an experienced |
| Brain Injury, Internal Medicine, | | | | traumatic brain injury lawyer who can |
| Soldiers Magazine, MIT's Technology | | | | provide assistance with developing a |
| Review and Perspectives in Psychiatric | | | | brain injury lawsuit. Because of the |
| Care. These statistics area as follow: | | | | nature of these injuries, there should |
| *Nearly 25 percent of all military | | | | be no reason why monetary compensation |
| veterans of the Iraq war are diagnosed | | | | is not rewarded to an injured party. |
| with a mental illness. | | | | TBI medical bills can be extremely |
| * War-related TBI patients often | | | | expensive, and this potential for |
| manifest distinct personality changes. | | | | awarded compensation can provide relief |
| * Of the 35,000 soldiers screened for | | | | from the stress associated with medical |
| TBI, approximately 11 percent have had | | | | expenses. |