P.Steven Macedo

While there is much unknown about brain injury, a 2003 study of returning soldiers
conducted by DVBIC at Walter Reed Medical Center found that 61% of soldiers who
suffered blast attacks had brain injuries. P. Stephen Makedo, a neurologist and former
Veterans Administration physician (cited by Ronald Glaser in a March 2007 article in the
Washington Post), estimates that at least one-third of all veterans who have served in
Iraq or Afghanistan are likely to have experienced it. Brain damage.

P.Steven Macedo

With nearly 2 million soldiers, sailors, pilots and marines currently serving in Iraq or
Afghanistan, that estimate means around 670,000 returning heroes will suffer brain
damage. This is far fewer than the only 12,274 reported TBI cases reported in March 2007.
The drastic difference in the numbers may indicate that current procedures for reviewing
and diagnosing military and veteran administrations are inadequate.

It's also possible that most of our characters can be diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder) when in fact they need to be diagnosed with TBI, MTBI, or a combination
of PTSD and brain trauma. Many symptoms of brain damage, mild or not, mirror symptoms
of PTSD. People who self-harm or self-harm typically experience one or more of the
following symptoms: memory loss, difficulty concentrating, decreased alertness, slower
thought processes, irritability, trouble sleeping, depression, and impulse control problems.
With so many common symptoms, it is impossible for many trained professionals to
determine which disease (or both) a soldier has.

However, it is necessary to provide adequate long-term care to the nation's heroes so that
medical providers can perform the necessary tests to determine if there is a brain injury.
This is very important because, according to the American Brain Injury Association (BIAA),
brain injury causes and accelerates many diseases, including respiratory, circulatory,
digestive, and neurological diseases. Without adequate initial care, veterans will not
receive examinations and follow-up care to prevent or reduce further harm.

Our family's personal experience with TBI/MTBI screening by the Veterans
Administration medical system has not been entirely favorable. My husband suffered
over twelve explosions (a combination of RPG and IED) while serving in Iraq. His post-
seizure neurological symptoms fall well below the diagnostic criteria for brain damage
(available on the BIAA website at www.biausa.org) because he has been losing
consciousness periodically for some time since the explosion. He received an initial
screening at our local VA outpatient department, followed by a “second rate
assessment” at our regional VA hospital. The second assessment was very
unprofessional and seemed to depend on the opinion of the doctor so I sought advice
from the BIAA. Through him I learned that my husband actually has at least one MTBI
and should receive follow-up care and testing according to “civil” care guidelines.
However, according to the VA Clinic, my husband's mental, behavioral, and physical
changes were entirely due to PTSD.
There are many current military and VA procedures and policies that need to be
adjusted and improved to properly treat and diagnose our many returning heroes. The
current level of concern among soldiers for brain damage is certainly one example. If
you or a loved one has served in Iraq or Afghanistan and have any of the symptoms of
TBI or TBI listed below, please make an accurate and complete diagnosis. We hope that
when enough veterans and family members stand up and ask for more, we will pave the
way for our other brothers and sisters to return.

https://www.washingtonmedgroup.com/