Many people in Louisiana may know that military service members can suffer traumatic brain injuries while in combat. However, what some may not realize is that service members could suffer brain injuries in training as well. And, unfortunately, the Department of Veterans Affairs may not always cover a traumatic brain injury that was not incurred in a combat situation.
For example, one service member who used rocket launchers while in training experienced muffled hearing, blurry vision and a loss of spatial orientation, even 20 years later. But, VA guidelines do not have a category for those who receive brain injuries in training. This is because, according to the VA, there is not a strong enough link between the use of heavy weapons in training and long-term health issues. This means that the VA may not always cover expenses the service member incurs from treating his or her brain injury.
This may be distressing to hear, as traumatic brain injuries can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. Not only may one suffer from poor health due to a brain injury, but that person may also be unable to work or may find their personality has changed due to the injury. These long-lasting effects of a traumatic brain injury can lead to extensive expenses related to medical care, therapy and lost wages.
Those who have suffered a brain injury deserve to be properly compensated for it, particularly when the injury was not their fault. While service members can suffer brain injuries, civilians can also suffer brain injuries, for example, in a car crash or due to a fall on a slippery grocery store floor. Brain injuries have the propensity to be expensive to treat. Therefore, those who suffer them will want to explore all their options for compensation.