Greater scrutiny suggested for TBI, PTSD
February 02, 2019
Qualifying for VA benefits due to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) soon might become more difficult.
Medical experts say PTSD often reveals itself via emotional responses, including those tied to avoiding situations and experiences that most resemble the prior trauma. Such situations can trigger PTSD flashbacks and emotional outbursts. Frequently, PTSD symptoms will worsen gradually and reveal themselves more apparently over time— especially if the veteran does not receive dedicated treatment.
With TBI, the symptoms often appear more readily via headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and tinnitus. Over the course of a year or so, those symptoms tend to improve. Yet, the underlying cause remains and can lead to significant difficulties over time.
In the short term, PTSD and TBI patients often report being moody, having trouble sleeping, difficulty with concentration and amnesia. Long-term PTSD and TBI patients run high risks of developing dementia and other cognitive disorders that cause dysfunctional behaviors that make it difficult to hold jobs. Although the two afflictions have similar causes and long-term consequences, effective treatment requires differing approaches.
The VA provides assistance to veterans with PTSD and TBI, but some medical experts suggest greater nuancing of recipients via personality tests and other assessments. The personality tests are akin to those administered in grade schools to help better assess a student’s potential. The idea is to better determine whether the patient suffers specifically from PTSD, TBI – or might be faking symptoms to obtain federal benefits. This, however, could lead to problems for deserving veterans who might find themselves subject to additional scrutiny prior to receiving earned benefits.