Brain Injuries
On this page
- Understanding brain injuries
- What are the common symptoms of a mTBI?
- What if I think I have a mTBI? How is it treated?
- What treatments for mTBI does DVA fund for veteran card holders?
- What did the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide say about brain injury and neurocognitive conditions?
- What is low-level blast exposure?
- What is DVA doing to better understand mTBI and low-level blast exposure?
- Defence and DVA Brain Injury Expert Advisory Panel Communiques
- Veterans' Factsheet- Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries
Learn more about brain injuries, and how to get support if you’re worried about your brain health.
Back to topUnderstanding brain injuries
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can happen when a person suffers trauma to the head that causes them to lose consciousness, become confused and/or disoriented.
TBIs can range from mild (mTBI) to severe, depending on how much damage occurs to the brain and how bad the symptoms are.
Concussion is another word for mTBI.
Back to topWhat are the common symptoms of a mTBI?
mTBIs can affect the body, cause changes in the way people think, and alter their mood. Short to long-term physical, mental and emotional changes may include, but are not limited to:
| Physical | Mental | Emotional |
|---|---|---|
| Balance problems | Confusion | Anxiety |
| Dizziness | Difficulty finding words | Feeling unhappy |
| Fatigue | Difficulty making decisions | Frustration |
| Headache | Memory loss | Anger |
| Nausea or vomiting | Difficulty concentrating | Mood swings |
| Hearing loss or sensitivity to sound | Difficulty sleeping | Emotionally Withdrawn |
| Ringing in ears (tinnitus) | Slowed thinking | Loss |
| Changes to your vision (blurry or double vision or sensitivity to light) | Feeling “fuzzy headed” | Distress |
What if I think I have a mTBI? How is it treated?
If you believe you may have a mTBI you should consult with your general practitioner.
Diagnosing mTBI starts with a detailed review by a health professional to understand the symptoms experienced by the person, and to look for reasons why they may be experiencing symptoms. This will include sending them for appropriate investigations to confirm or rule out possible causes.
If a mTBI is confirmed, treatment is often aimed at avoiding further injuries to the head, supporting good brain health, and managing symptoms.
Back to topWhat treatments for mTBI does DVA fund for veteran card holders?
If you have symptoms of a possible brain injury, DVA will fund the assessment and investigations to help you get a diagnosis under:
- Veteran Gold Card;
- Veteran White Card with a relevant accepted condition; or
- Veteran Whie Card - Non-Liability Health Care (NLHC) for Mental Health.
Following diagnosis, DVA can fund health treatment for brain injuries for veterans with a:
- Veteran Gold Card; or
- Veteran White Card holders where a condition has been accepted as related to military service.
If your symptoms are due to a mental health condition you can be treated under a Non-Liability Health Care (NLHC) for Mental Health (Veteran White Card) arrangements.
Back to topWhat did the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide say about brain injury and neurocognitive conditions?
Recommendation 61 of the Royal Commission suggested that a brain injury program be created to:
- Better understand and mitigate impacts to the brain caused by repeated low-level blast exposure; and
- Assess and treat any issues with brain function that affect serving and ex-serving members no matter their cause.
The Government has agreed-in-principle to this recommendation, and it is being considered in further detail by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Taskforce.
Back to topWhat is low-level blast exposure?
In the military, exposure to ‘blast pressure waves’ from large explosive devices or other equipment can cause a type of TBI. Examples include fighter pilots experiencing acceleration and deceleration during flights, artillery crew or soldiers firing mortars.
Recent research has also looked at the impacts of smaller blasts over a long time, known as ‘repetitive low level blast exposure’ or ‘low level blast exposure’.
Low-level blast exposure is an area of ongoing research around the world to understand what happens to the brain when exposed to repetitive low-level blast exposure.
Back to topWhat is DVA doing to better understand mTBI and low-level blast exposure?
DVA has commissioned the University of New South Wales to conduct a rolling literature review of international evidence on mTBIs and low-level blast exposure. This review will collect the latest information as it becomes available.
In addition, DVA and Defence have established a Brain Injury Expert Advisory Panel (EAP). The EAP brings together medical and scientific experts who research, diagnose and treat brain injuries and other neurocognitive conditions to consider topics relevant to DVA and Defence’s work on brain injury prevention and program development and provide advice. The EAP supports Defence and DVA to respond to the issue of mTBI through informed, evidence-based policy design.
Research on brain injuries, and the impact of low-level blast exposure is ongoing around the world.
Back to topDefence and DVA Brain Injury Expert Advisory Panel Communiques
Back to topVeterans' Factsheet- Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries
A mTBI factsheet has been developed to support veterans who may be worried about their brain health.
Back to top