Should Service Members have baseline brain scans prior to deployment or upon entering service?

LTC Gavin Heater — Thu, 28 May 2015 08:25:21 -0400

Should the Services or Medical Community at large consider baseline brain scans for Service Members prior to deployment or upon entering service? Professional and amateur sports teams and clubs are considering it . I personally experienced two minor sports related concussions prior to my service and two more while serving, one in Korea and one on my first tour to Iraq. Thankfully I did not experience any lingering trauma as determined by post deployment brain scans. What do you think? All opinions welcome.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 8:28 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 08:28:22 -0400

Seems like a reasonable precaution to take, although there'd likely be concerns about cost since MRIs aren't cheap.
Maybe a compromise solution where it is a pre-deployment requirement would work.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 8:28 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 08:28:52 -0400

Absolutely! It can only assist them when looking at treatment and potential disability claims in the future. It's only going to get more difficult to get claims approved, so this should help!

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 28 at 2015 8:42 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 28 May 2015 08:42:08 -0400

I don't think the exact science is there yet to make conclusive decisions but it wouldn't be a bad thing to start especially among our crown and perhaps the NFL and NHL - the more contact oriented professional sports. It can only make things better and provide the necessary data to make the science conclusive. Who knows, this could also provide some insight into the origins of PTSD and its long term effects.

Response by LCpl Tuwasé Griner made May 28 at 2015 8:56 AM

LCpl Tuwasé Griner — Thu, 28 May 2015 08:56:08 -0400

Yes, A before and after images are difficult to contest and would therefore make progress a lot more accurate and efficient than what is currently being used.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 9:58 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 09:58:58 -0400

Sounds like a good idea, but not certain of the cumulative effects of increasing radiation from Xrays, MRIs, Cat Scans, etc.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 28 at 2015 11:17 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 28 May 2015 11:17:08 -0400

Gavin , they have that computer based test pre and post deployment to look for TBI. The predeployment is a baseline. They also maintain your results from previous deployments.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 3:14 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 15:14:51 -0400

I got them at the mob site when heading over, and then upon returning to see the differences....as did everyone I deployed with.

Response by SGT Mike Davis made May 28 at 2015 10:51 PM

SGT Mike Davis — Thu, 28 May 2015 22:51:12 -0400

Before and after and add a Nero physic test to it that adds the base line of where they stand also a definition needs to be establish one hospital says test for brain injury this way another says test this way when I showed up at the VA they wanted to run two or three different test with different results depending on who was reading the results and that persons "agenda" one difenAtive test needs to be establish and made the rule of law and get the "agendas" out of the mix

Response by Sgt Darrin Momsen made Jun 24 at 2017 8:09 PM

Sgt Darrin Momsen — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 20:09:16 -0400

I watched a TED talk where the gentleman was speaking about brain scans. I think the military would be a perfect fit for something like this. If the government can use to scans to develop programs to cure the brain damage then this would be really effective in improving the mental welfare of our veterans. The problem is that the government would use the brain scans as a way to discharge our servicemembers.

Response by LTC Matthew Schlosser made Aug 3 at 2025 10:39 PM

LTC Matthew Schlosser — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 22:39:22 -0400

I think there's a lot of risk in the idea. I don't think we're anywhere near good enough at interpreting changes from one scan to the next to be relying on them for MRB and disability purposes.