Signature Injuries Advances in battlefield medicine are saving many more of the injured than in previous wars, but leaving survivors with traumatic brain injury, amputations, burns, blindness and spinal injuries. Thousands come home with more subtle signs of brain damage not included in casualty figures, while thousands more are seeking mental health treatment. Military and hospital officials use screening tools for both -- experts call them the signature injuries of this war, "silent epidemics." The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, a research and treatment agency run by the Pentagon and the veterans department, found that 31 percent of the soldiers who required medical evacuation for battle-related wounds had traumatic brain injuries. This covers a broad spectrum, from concussions to severe injuries such as those suffered by Love. Veterans Affairs funds some care at private rehabilitation facilities, including Love's residential treatment facility in Bay City.   "The VA is waking up to what is needed for rehabilitation," said the Kochville Township man's mother, Diane G. Love. "Our center in Saginaw has been working very hard. They are very supportive." The total number of servicemen and women deployed in these ongoing conflicts has topped 1.7 million, many of whom have taken on second or third deployments. More than 4,460 have died as of March 17. Beyond those hurt in combat, another 31,000 have been hurt in other ways -- such as truck, construction or training accidents or non-hostile fire -- or succumbed to illness that required treatment while serving in the two conflicts. President Bush is seeking a budget of $93.7 billion in fiscal year 2009 for the Department of Veterans Affairs -- more than $3.4 billion more than present spending, with health care and disability compensation receiving most of the funding. The budget includes $1.3 billion to meet the health care needs of an estimated 330,000 veterans returned from service in Iraq and Afghanistan, $3.9 billion for mental health services systemwide and $1.5 billion for prosthetics and sensory aids. "We encourage everyone to get mental health support," Perez said. "VA services are holistic, from the mind to the physical." | Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | [ Compensation News ]