Not All Brain Injuries In Veterans Disclosed By Pentagon, USA Today Reports

Main Category: Veterans / Ex-Servicemen
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  Anxiety / Stress
Article Date: 27 Nov 2007 - 12:00 PDT

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More than 20,000 soldiers who have shown signs of brain injuries were not classified as wounded during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Army, Navy and Department of Veterans Affairs records compiled by USA Today. According to the USA Today analysis, there are about five times more servicemembers who sustained brain trauma -- mostly mild or moderate injuries -- than the 4,471 officially listed by the Department of Defense through Sept. 30. Those 20,000 soldiers also are not included in the department's official tally of wounded, which stands at 30,327. The 20,000 figure is based on data from VA hospitals and four military bases, meaning that it is possible that additional injuries still have not been counted.

According to Army Col. Robert Labutta, a neurologist and brain injury consultant for the Pentagon, servicemembers whose injuries were discovered after leaving combat are not added to the official casualty list. He said, "We are working to do a better job of reflecting accurate data in the official casualty table." Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, said more than 150,000 troops might have received head injuries in combat. He said, "I am wary that the number of brain-injured troops far exceeds the total number reported injured" (Zoroya, USA Today, 11/23).

NPR's "Day to Day" on Friday included a discussion with USA Today reporter Gregg Zoroya about brain injuries among veterans (Brand, "Day to Day," NPR, 11/23). Audio of the segment is available online.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Sunday examined a study released earlier this month about the delayed emergence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in some veterans. According to the Post-Gazette, increased congressional funding is helping the Army perform follow-up screenings for veterans (Malcolm, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11/25).

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