PART 2 How To Secure A Service-Connected Disability For TBI                         First, what is a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?  TBI is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain.  Not all blows or jolts to the head result in TBI.                                    The severity of such an injury may range from “mild” (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to “severe” (an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after an injury).                           TBI can result in short or long-term problems with activities of daily living (ADLs).                                       What Causes TBI?                         As a veteran of the Armed Forces, you have encountered many situations that may have caused TBI or exacerbated an already existing condition. Common causes of TBI to veterans are bullets, fragments, blasts, falls, motor vehicle-traffic crashes, assaults, and physical training accidents.                                What are some of the signs and symptoms?                          The signs and symptoms of TBI can be subtle.  People may look fine even though they may act or feel differently.  The following are some common signs and symptoms of TBI:                          ·        Headaches ·        Difficulty remembering, concentrating or making decisions ·        Slowness in thinking, speaking, acting or reading ·        Getting lost or easily confused ·        Feeling tired all of the time, having no energy or motivation ·        Mood changes (feeling sad or angry for no reason) ·        Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping a lot more or having a hard time sleeping) ·        Light-headedness, dizziness or loss of balance ·        Urge to vomit (nausea) ·        Increased sensitivity to lights, sounds or distractions ·        Blurred vision or eyes that tire easily ·        Loss of sense of smell or taste ·        Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)                                           What You Should Do to Secure Your Claim                          At this point, you may be asking yourself if you have TBI.  You may have determined that you have TBI.  If so, now that you know a little about TBI, now is the time to learn a lot about the process of securing your TBI claim. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |