If you have served in the military in Iraq or Afghanistan during combat, you may have been exposed to situations that have caused you to experience a brain injury. Even if you were not physically injured, being in close proximity to roadside bombs or other explosive devices can cause ripples of pressure to go through your brain, which in turn can lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Many times the condition may not even manifest itself until years later. Once you begin to experience signs and symptoms of TBI, going back and proving that your military service was to blame may be difficult. A good brain injury attorney can help you to prove your case.

What Is Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injury is a very complex condition that can affect each person differently. Caused by trauma or injury to the brain, many times the symptoms of TBI are reflective of the area that is damaged within the brain.

The brain affects all you do, as well as who you are. Many people, including doctors, do not always understand the wide-reaching ramifications of TBI. While one person may experience outward indicators, such as delays in speech, headaches, or changes in their vision, another may show no physical signs, but may experience severe personality changes.

Unfortunately, unlike other physical injuries which will usually heal over time, the brain does not always completely heal. TBI often leaves residual effects that can be experienced for the rest of the life of those affected. TBI is usually broken down into two categories:

• Mild TBI - This is usually when a person has experienced a brief loss of consciousness and/or confusion lasting less than 30 minutes. This is sometimes a result of a concussion. This is very hard to diagnose, as CAT and MRI scans are usually normal. A person with a mild TBI may still experience fatigue, headaches, dizziness, vision problems, mood swings, sleep issues, attention deficits, and more.
• Moderate/Severe TBI - If a person has lost consciousness for more than 30 minutes, or continues to experience mental disorientation after 24 hours, they may be diagnosed as having moderate or severe TBI. The accident or injury is usually more severe than the one that causes mild TBI, and those that are affected usually show some type of sign immediately following the incident. Those experiencing this condition often show more outward signs such as paralysis, delays in motor skills, or severe emotional problems. There can also be a delay in the onset of some of the physical issues, as well as residual cognitive or social deficits.

Why You Need An Attorney

Some of the activities that cause military injuries are not always recorded as such. Explosions, accidents, and falls, are often just a part of doing your job when you are in the military. Unless you have a serious injury, you are often expected to shake it off and get back to what you are doing. Even if you have received treatment, records that are created outside of the country often have to be brought back into the country before they can be entered into your permanent medical record. This makes them susceptible to being lost and/or damaged. 

A brain injury attorney like those at the Sarkisian Law Offices may not be able to produce your original records, but if you have suffered, or are currently suffering, from a traumatic brain injury, they will be able to give you advice that may help you establish that you do have this condition. They will then assist you in proving that this was a result of your military service. Failure to pursue your case may mean that you are leaving service-related disability compensation on the table that should belong to you. 

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