In the VA, TBI has become a major focus secondary to recognition of the need for increased resources to provide health care and vocational retraining for individuals with a diagnosis of TBI, as they transition to veteran status.  Veterans may sustain TBI’s throughout their lifespan, with the largest increase as the veterans' enter into their 70's and 80's; these injuries are often due to falls and result in high levels of disability. 

Active duty and reserve service members are at increased risk for sustaining a TBI compared to their civilian peers. This is a result of several factors, including the specific demographics of the military; in general, young men between the ages of 18 to 24 are at greatest risk for TBI. Many operational and training activities which are routine in the military are physically demanding and even potentially dangerous. Military service members are increasingly deployed to areas where they are at risk for experiencing blast exposures from improvised explosive devices (IEDs), suicide bombers, land mines, mortar rounds, rocket-propelled grenades etc. These and other combat related activities put our military service members at increased risk for sustaining a TBI.

Although recent attention has been intensively focused on combat-related TBI, it should be noted that TBI is not uncommon even in garrison and occurs during unusual daily activities; service members enjoy exciting leisure activities; they ride motorcycles, climb mountains and parachute from planes for recreation. In addition, physical training is an integral part of the active duty service members' everyday life. These activities are expected for our service members and contribute to a positive quality of life, but these activities can also increase risk for TBI.

The following sections delve deeper into issues of TBI and the military. Topics aim to increase awareness of the unique issues which contribute to TBI in the military and what is being done to support the care and recovery of combat wounded troops and veterans with TBI.