United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-02-08 monographic deposited born digital 55 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-276 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-276 P0b002ee1803901ec f:d08276 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-276 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-276 GAO-08-276 Defense operations Health care planning Health care policies Health care programs Medical care evaluation Medical examinations Medically necessary treatments Military health services Military personnel Risk management Strategic planning Veterans Veterans benefits Veterans' medical care DOD Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom Other Written Product A80611 Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has emerged as a leading injury among servicemembers serving in the Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) combat theaters. The widespread use of improvised explosive devices, such as roadside bombs, in these combat theaters increases the likelihood that servicemembers will be exposed to incidents that can cause a TBI. TBIs can vary from mild to severe, and in general, mild TBI can be difficult to identify. Because mild TBI can have lasting effects if not identified and treated, concerns have been raised about how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) identifies and treats OEF/OIF veterans with a mild TBI. In this report GAO describes VA's (1) efforts to screen OEF/OIF veterans for mild TBI, (2) steps taken so that those OEF/OIF veterans at risk for mild TBI are evaluated and treated, and (3) challenges in screening and evaluating OEF/OIF veterans for mild TBI. GAO reviewed VA's policies, interviewed VA officials and TBI experts, and reviewed nine VA medical facilities' efforts to implement TBI screening and evaluation processes. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-276/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-276.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-276/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-276.pdf GAO-08-276 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-276 Other Written Product GAO-08-276; VA Health Care: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Screening and Evaluation Implemented for OEF/OIF Veterans, but Challenges Remain; Defense operations Health care planning Health care policies Health care programs Medical care evaluation Medical examinations Medically necessary treatments Military health services Military personnel Risk management Strategic planning Veterans Veterans benefits Veterans' medical care DOD Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom Volume 120 Page 2083 120 Stat. 2083 Public Law 110-181 Public Law 110-364