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Do you have symptoms from repeat low level concussions that need treatment?
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The VA Traumatic Brain Injury Health Registry has over 440,000 veterans diagnosed with a TBI between 2001 and 2021.
But how many of us have symptoms but no diagnosis (yet)?
TBIs caused by an explosion that lead to visible head trauma or loss of consciousness are easy to recognize. But what about firing countless rounds of heavy machine guns, multiple near-miss IED detonations, regular combatives training, static line jumps that end with a not-so-smooth PLF, etc.?
We want to know if you’ve had these or similar experiences and now have unexplained symptoms such as headaches, vision issues, sleep issues, balance problems, etc.
In addition to sharing your thoughts below, here are some veteran-focused resources if you are looking for help now:
- Shepherd Center SHARE Military Initiative: https://rly.pt/ShepherdCenter
- Marcus Institute for Brain health: https://rly.pt/MarcusInstitute
- Home Base Brain Health for Special Operators: https://rly.pt/HomeBase
Of course, always talk to your primary care physician (PCPs) about any symptoms that concern you. If your PCP is not at the VA, consider getting VA care as VA docs see a lot more brain trauma patients than most of their civilian counterparts: https://rly.pt/VAapply.
But how many of us have symptoms but no diagnosis (yet)?
TBIs caused by an explosion that lead to visible head trauma or loss of consciousness are easy to recognize. But what about firing countless rounds of heavy machine guns, multiple near-miss IED detonations, regular combatives training, static line jumps that end with a not-so-smooth PLF, etc.?
We want to know if you’ve had these or similar experiences and now have unexplained symptoms such as headaches, vision issues, sleep issues, balance problems, etc.
In addition to sharing your thoughts below, here are some veteran-focused resources if you are looking for help now:
- Shepherd Center SHARE Military Initiative: https://rly.pt/ShepherdCenter
- Marcus Institute for Brain health: https://rly.pt/MarcusInstitute
- Home Base Brain Health for Special Operators: https://rly.pt/HomeBase
Of course, always talk to your primary care physician (PCPs) about any symptoms that concern you. If your PCP is not at the VA, consider getting VA care as VA docs see a lot more brain trauma patients than most of their civilian counterparts: https://rly.pt/VAapply.
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Mental Health
TBI
HealthMedically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS)
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mental Health TBI HealthMedically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS)
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
PO3 Edward Riddle -
Ed, Like A Frigging Pit Bull, I'm Staying on Their's And Ain't Letting Loose.
I May NOT Get My Needs Taken Care Of But Those SOB's Will Remember I've Been There.- Through Multiple Medical Errors And Prescribed Medications I Didn't Need --
I Required Emergency Surgery And About 3 Days Short Of 1 MONTH Of Hospitalization With Continued Daily Visits By An RN To My House To Inject Additional Antibiotics -- I'm Not The Only One Surprised I Survived, So Was 1 Of The ER Doctors And He Said So..
Ed, Like A Frigging Pit Bull, I'm Staying on Their's And Ain't Letting Loose.
I May NOT Get My Needs Taken Care Of But Those SOB's Will Remember I've Been There.- Through Multiple Medical Errors And Prescribed Medications I Didn't Need --
I Required Emergency Surgery And About 3 Days Short Of 1 MONTH Of Hospitalization With Continued Daily Visits By An RN To My House To Inject Additional Antibiotics -- I'm Not The Only One Surprised I Survived, So Was 1 Of The ER Doctors And He Said So..
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
PO3 Edward Riddle -
Just A Little Rougher With Age, Tougher In My Younger Years,
Just A Little Rougher With Age, Tougher In My Younger Years,
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"Repeat low level concussions"
Isn't that the job description for tank crewmen, artillerymen, and mortar crews in the Army and Marine Corps.? Gunner's Mates in the Navy and Coast Guard? Everyone aboard an aircraft carrier? And a dozen other MOS across all branches of the service?
Isn't that the job description for tank crewmen, artillerymen, and mortar crews in the Army and Marine Corps.? Gunner's Mates in the Navy and Coast Guard? Everyone aboard an aircraft carrier? And a dozen other MOS across all branches of the service?
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SPC Wesley Parker
105 mm Howitzer field artillery. I was exposed to thousands of explosions in the 170-180 decibel range.
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MSG Thomas Currie
SPC Wesley Parker - As a career tanker I know exactly what you are talking about, it's not just your own gun, it's the rest of the battery or the tank platoon, etc. Also we both served before the Army began to take hearing loss seriously and no one ever considered "repeat low level concussions."
I'm diagnosed with high frequency hearing loss (which the VA acknowledges but refuses to consider a problem) and tinnitus (which is less of a problem but is counted by the VA).
I'm diagnosed with high frequency hearing loss (which the VA acknowledges but refuses to consider a problem) and tinnitus (which is less of a problem but is counted by the VA).
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SrA Cecelia Eareckson
Well, yes, and it did not used to be regarded as serious. My own mother was an RN, who spent the bulk of her career in a hospital that specialized in rehab when that meant car crashes and other trauma. When .i asked her about a calcified ridge on the side of my head, she just said that meant I had taken a very hard blow to that area. She loved me, and she depended on me to help her remain in the house. Had there been any recognized need at the time, she would have referred me.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
I've YET To Understand WHY We Vets Are Forced To Fight For The Benefits We Are Qualified For And Are Entitled To .--- I've Been Ding Combat With Theses SOB'S For DECADES And Have Received Nothing But Referrals To Other VA And Government Offices.
"I'm Sorry To Hear That BUT..."---" It's Not MY Job.." -
"I'm Sorry To Hear That BUT..."---" It's Not MY Job.." -
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I feel like I need to wear a hat that says TBI survivor because I “Look” normal at this point. My care team is well aware and I couldn’t ask for anything better.
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Maj Kim Patterson
LTC Matthew Schlosser - I don’t know wha gave you the impression I was an airplane washer.
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MSgt Bj Jones
SrA Cecelia Eareckson That is crazy! Thank God you survived. What happened to the O-6? Were there charges and prison time? I'm sorry those things happened to you.
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SrA Cecelia Eareckson
MSgt Bj Jones Thank you but this was pre Tailhook, and the JAG warned me that if I filed a complaint I “would be lucky if nothing happened.” I truly brlieve that advice was meant well.
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Getting on the registry is a good idea, if you have any of these symptoms!
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
I ASSUME You And Your Friend Aren't Just 2 Guys In The Woods Deer Hunting.
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SGT Carl Blas
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney - Lol, he was assigned as my assitent gunner. Korean Sgt Lee
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
SGT Carl Blas -
Ya, I Kind-a Thought There Was Something More Going On!
In Was Stationed At Osan AFB, But That Was In 1964 - 1965,
About 10 Years After The Truce Was Signed And It Was Still An Adventure.
I Managed To Be Befriended By A South Korean Soldier, Quan, Whom Took
My White Butt All Over South Korea, Into The Mountain Areas And All Over Hell
To Places Which Had No Electricity And Therefore Had Never Seen Anyone But Other Local Koreans -- 1 Question Which Was Asked At Every Place We Went, Due To The Color Of My Eyes Was, Quan Would Translate To: "Does He See Everything In Blue"? And At 5'9" I Was A Frigging Giant
Ya, I Kind-a Thought There Was Something More Going On!
In Was Stationed At Osan AFB, But That Was In 1964 - 1965,
About 10 Years After The Truce Was Signed And It Was Still An Adventure.
I Managed To Be Befriended By A South Korean Soldier, Quan, Whom Took
My White Butt All Over South Korea, Into The Mountain Areas And All Over Hell
To Places Which Had No Electricity And Therefore Had Never Seen Anyone But Other Local Koreans -- 1 Question Which Was Asked At Every Place We Went, Due To The Color Of My Eyes Was, Quan Would Translate To: "Does He See Everything In Blue"? And At 5'9" I Was A Frigging Giant
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Even if you can get them to acknowledge a TBI it might not do any good. On VA.gov my list of recognized conditions shows TBI as non service connected. a Line of Duty investigation was done and the incident was determined to be LoD. I should have been medically retired in 1993, not discharged at 20%.
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LTC Matthew Schlosser
I actually did have a concussion, but no TBI. At the time, they were retardedly overdiagnosing TBI because it was the shiny object in the room, same as for a while there, everyone who died WITH COVID was counted as having died FROM COVID. There was an air of "don't get caught missing a TBI diagnosis" around 2004-2005, so the response was that EVERYONE who got hit with an IED automatically had a TBI. If, like me, they actually didn't have a TBI, they just called it "TBI without symptoms."
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SSG Eric Blue
Based on what you said here, I probably should have been medically retired at 11 years and 8 months instead of being forced off of active-duty at 16 and a half years. I cracked my friggin' skull on an Airborne op and got diagnosed with bleeding on the brain, received 5 MRIs, 3 CT scans, and 6 months of therapy. All while still in uniform. They tried to deploy me with a cracked skull. Funny but stupid is that I had been chasing after the Combatives course for about 7 years by the time this happened. I cracked my skull on a Wednesday and those dummies had me signed up for Combatives the very next day. REALLY?!?
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
Here's A Site Which May Be Of Help... But As Most Already Know -
"Because We HAVE These Benefits Does NOT Mean "We Won't Have To Fight The VA To GET Them". ---
Veterans Benefits Administrationbenefits.va.gov
Nov 13, 2025 · Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.
~~~ And Below Is Some Documentation You May Need To Prove Your Case ~~~
And Sometimes, As In MY Case The SOB'S Are STILL Denying My Benefit To A Portable Oxygen Machine. I Have COPD And Am Tethered To About 50 Feet Of Tubing.
"Because We HAVE These Benefits Does NOT Mean "We Won't Have To Fight The VA To GET Them". ---
Veterans Benefits Administrationbenefits.va.gov
Nov 13, 2025 · Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.
~~~ And Below Is Some Documentation You May Need To Prove Your Case ~~~
And Sometimes, As In MY Case The SOB'S Are STILL Denying My Benefit To A Portable Oxygen Machine. I Have COPD And Am Tethered To About 50 Feet Of Tubing.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney -
~~~ The Question I Asked Of The VA Was:~~~~
"Is A Military Veteran Entitled To Care And Supplies, Through ANY VA Facility, Regardless Of Where He Resides"?
~~~~ And Here's Their Reply:~~~
"YES, a military veteran can receive medical products from out-of-state VA facilities, even if they are not living there. However, the veteran must be eligible for VA care without needing to enroll or be enrolled in VA health care 1. The eligibility for community care is dependent upon a veteran’s individual health care needs or circumstances 1. In most cases, veterans must receive approval from VA prior to obtaining care from a community provider 1. VA staff members generally make all eligibility determinations 1. Please note that VA is not authorized to ship medications or medical/surgical supply items outside of the U.S. or its territories 2. If you’re a veteran who lives overseas, you remain entitled to the benefits and services you earned through your military service. Most VA benefits are payable regardless of your place of residence or nationality 3. If you’re moving outside the U.S., you’ll need to sign up for the Foreign Medical Program. Through this program, VA will pay for certain needed health care services received in foreign countries to treat a service-connected disability or a disability that’s making a service-connected condition worse 4. I hope this helps!"
- -- Note: I Was Told My Local VA It Has Restrictions And My Request Was Denied. --
Well, It's NOT Restricted And Not Even Mentioned In This VA Document.---
~~~ The Question I Asked Of The VA Was:~~~~
"Is A Military Veteran Entitled To Care And Supplies, Through ANY VA Facility, Regardless Of Where He Resides"?
~~~~ And Here's Their Reply:~~~
"YES, a military veteran can receive medical products from out-of-state VA facilities, even if they are not living there. However, the veteran must be eligible for VA care without needing to enroll or be enrolled in VA health care 1. The eligibility for community care is dependent upon a veteran’s individual health care needs or circumstances 1. In most cases, veterans must receive approval from VA prior to obtaining care from a community provider 1. VA staff members generally make all eligibility determinations 1. Please note that VA is not authorized to ship medications or medical/surgical supply items outside of the U.S. or its territories 2. If you’re a veteran who lives overseas, you remain entitled to the benefits and services you earned through your military service. Most VA benefits are payable regardless of your place of residence or nationality 3. If you’re moving outside the U.S., you’ll need to sign up for the Foreign Medical Program. Through this program, VA will pay for certain needed health care services received in foreign countries to treat a service-connected disability or a disability that’s making a service-connected condition worse 4. I hope this helps!"
- -- Note: I Was Told My Local VA It Has Restrictions And My Request Was Denied. --
Well, It's NOT Restricted And Not Even Mentioned In This VA Document.---
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Thank you for sharing this. It’s great to have these resources and to raise awareness about something many veterans might be dealing with but don’t always talk about.
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I went to the VA TBI Clinic in Nashville and because I didn't blackout long enough they told me that I had wasted my time and that they wouldn't even do the appointment or scan. I have brought it up to my primary care team every other year or so, but no one seems to care.
I'm sure there's a disconnect, but I can only chase so many leads at a time.
I'm sure there's a disconnect, but I can only chase so many leads at a time.
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PO3 Edward Riddle
Have you filed a claim with one of the Veterans Service Organizations? A claim can sometimes help, although I fought a PTSD claim for 20 years before I won. Of course, PTSD wasn't a real diagnosis in the '70's.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
PO3 Edward Riddle -
From, My Personal Relations With Our VA Out Here In Vegas, I Have To Agree With CPL HAWKINS When He Stated: "I have brought it up to my primary care team every other year or so, but no one seems to care."
To Every Word -- Been THERE - Done THAT; And My Worst Enemy Was My Now Retired, Primary Physician --- If HE Couldn't Find The Problem --- YOU Weren't Sick -- For Which Damned Near Cause My Death - -LITTERALLY
From, My Personal Relations With Our VA Out Here In Vegas, I Have To Agree With CPL HAWKINS When He Stated: "I have brought it up to my primary care team every other year or so, but no one seems to care."
To Every Word -- Been THERE - Done THAT; And My Worst Enemy Was My Now Retired, Primary Physician --- If HE Couldn't Find The Problem --- YOU Weren't Sick -- For Which Damned Near Cause My Death - -LITTERALLY
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SrA Cecelia Eareckson
Just revisiting this thread. Was that blackout supposed to have been at the time of the event? Because a person cannot form a memory of the even, or some time around it. So, how were they calculating your time unconscious?
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
SrA Cecelia Eareckson -
1st Of All, When Dealing With The VA, Try To NOT Confuse Them With Facts,
That Only Makes Things Worse; They Seem To Already Have Their Minds Made Up Before You've Had An Opportunity To Present Your Case - I Swear, Sometimes I'm Almost Sure That's The Way They Operate. - Like Dealing With F-King Kids In A Sand-Box, Over Who's Turn It Is To Use The Shovel And Pail...
1st Of All, When Dealing With The VA, Try To NOT Confuse Them With Facts,
That Only Makes Things Worse; They Seem To Already Have Their Minds Made Up Before You've Had An Opportunity To Present Your Case - I Swear, Sometimes I'm Almost Sure That's The Way They Operate. - Like Dealing With F-King Kids In A Sand-Box, Over Who's Turn It Is To Use The Shovel And Pail...
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