🧠 TBI Diagnoses in Military Personnel Near 300,000 Between 2002–2017

The Invisible Wounds of War Demand Visible Solutions

From 2002 to 2017, nearly 300,000 U.S. service members were diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)—a staggering figure that underscores the often unseen toll of modern military service.

While images of combat typically focus on external wounds, TBIs represent a more complex and silent crisis. These injuries—caused by blasts, falls, vehicle accidents, and direct combat—can leave lasting cognitive, emotional, and physical effects that follow veterans home long after their tour ends.

⚠️ The Scale of the Issue

According to the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, the U.S. military recorded:

• Over 375,000 TBI diagnoses across all branches by 2023

• Approximately 82% of these were classified as “mild” TBIs, such as concussions

• Many TBIs go unreported or undiagnosed until years later, often misattributed to PTSD or other mental health conditions

Yet “mild” doesn’t mean minor—especially when symptoms linger for months or resurface unexpectedly, interfering with sleep, memory, focus, mood, and more.

🧪 What Is a TBI?

A Traumatic Brain Injury occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. In military environments, this is most commonly due to:

• Explosive blasts (IEDs)

• Head trauma from combat or training

• Falls or accidents in armored vehicles or aircraft

Even with advanced gear, the brain is still vulnerable to the internal impact of shockwaves, whiplash, or impact. These injuries can affect how a service member thinks, acts, and feels—sometimes permanently.

🧠 TBI & Mental Health: A Dangerous Overlap

One of the most serious complications of TBI is its overlap with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression. Many veterans with TBIs also struggle with:

• Irritability and mood swings

• Anxiety and social withdrawal

• Increased risk of substance abuse

• Higher suicide rates

When misdiagnosed—or untreated entirely—these symptoms can be life-threatening. And for too long, military systems treated “invisible injuries” with silence.

🔍 Why This Still Matters in 2025

We are nearly two decades removed from the start of the post-9/11 wars, but the TBI crisis is far from over:

• Veterans are still navigating complex VA disability claims for cognitive injuries

• Many are unaware that their memory loss, anger, or brain fog may be connected to past concussions

• Current Department of Defense policy does not consistently track long-term outcomes or reassignment options for service members with TBIs

✊ What Can Be Done?

The conversation is shifting—and advocacy efforts like the #ReasonableRanks campaign are demanding reform.

We must push for:

• ✅ Improved screening and recognition of TBIs—especially during discharge evaluations

• ✅ Reassignment pathways for injured service members who can still serve in non-combat roles

• ✅ Expanded research and data collection on long-term effects of military-related brain injuries

• ✅ Trauma-informed care training for VA staff and leadership

📝 Every Veteran Deserves a Clear Path to Healing

TBI may not leave a visible scar—but it leaves real damage. And no veteran should be forgotten simply because their injury doesn’t fit into an easy diagnosis or checkbox.

We must treat invisible wounds with visible action.

🔗 Join the movement. Sign the petition today:

📌 https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR

🌐 Learn more about our advocacy:

📍 www.covenantofcourage.com/reasonableranks-action