Does a Veteran injured with a brain injury from a road side bomb deserve a Purple Heart?

I'm not sure how you start this process. My daughter was severely injured in Afghanistan back in 2013, and before she was even back in the States, they had awarded it to her. In fact, she wasn't even CONSCIOUS when she got it, the Army had sent her brother/my son back with her from Afghanistan, and he accepted the medal for her. I am profoundly grateful for this, as I am former military, worked in Personnel, and I know that they did not have to take him out of his unit, give him a release from theater, and allow him to accompany her to Germany, and then on to Walter Reed. He stayed with her for nearly 6 months before they returned my son to his Unit.

I would say off hand, that you either contact someone at your closest VA about this, and if they cannot point you in the right direction, contact your congressman. And, I caution you about the Congressman, as a former military personnel clerk! - because the military hates having a Congressional Inquiry. But it is an option, and they will jump to answer it.

The VA rep should have a POC to send the required information to. It's a pain and doesn't happen overnight. Good luck.

As I remember you have to have bleeding. Did the medics record any bleeding, perhaps from the ears, etc?

The injury is documented by the VA, his medievac and triage should be documented as well. Statements from those present should be easily obtained and whoever was in command should have noted it and recommended the award as it was a direct result of combat action in a combat theater sustained while engaged with the enemy. I would contact his base public affairs officer and if I didn't like their response, send copies of your documentation to his Senator and Congressman to initiate a Congretional Inquiry! I'm a retired Air Force First Sergant, but my Son is in the Army and you can damn sure bet if I contacted the Pentagon over all the letters being returned that I wrote him in basic to keep up his morale, I 'd have them asking "What Fresh Hell is This" if he were treated like that! I'm sure my Brothers and Sisters in Arms (regardless of branch of service would feel the same)!

Best Regards,

Scott A. Gaston, MSgt, USAF (Ret)

Yes he can be awarded the PH from congress. That is how I received mine. There are several factors which would be needed in order to be awarded it. The biggest one is the SF 600 from theater when he was treated by medical personnel other than a combat medic i.e. physician assistant or more qualified stating a concussion that was treated for greater than 48 hrs. for his signs and symptoms. Full requirements needing to be met can be found at http://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/purple%20heart
I do not know however how to have one submitted once discharged. You can check with your local chapter of Military Order of the Purple Heart, VFW or American Legion and they could point you in the right direction to file for it or help file for it if all requirements are met. Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK.

PO2 Mark Saffell, Why not?

You would need a before and after MRI / CT scan to prove it.
I have a 1/4 hole in my head from an RPG and VA keeps turning me down for TBI and I did get a Purple Heart.