VA change to increase compensation for TBI

[unhappycamper]

VA change to increase compensation for TBI
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Sep 24, 2008 5:35:06 EDT

In the first of what could become many revisions in its disability ratings, the Veterans Affairs Department announced Tuesday that it is changing how it evaluates traumatic brain injuries, a move that could increase disability compensation for thousands of veterans who have been injured by roadside bombs or other explosions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The changes, which could take effect within 30 days, apply only to new disability claims. But in some cases, veterans already given a disability rating could ask to be reevaluated. Any increase in benefits resulting from the change would not be retroactive for those already rated, VA officials said.

VA officials pledged that no one’s disability rating — which determines their level of compensation — would be reduced as a result of the change.

The change, which has been in the works since January, is aimed at blast injuries from roadside bombs — a common injury for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, VA officials said in a statement. About 6,000 veterans already have been rated by VA as having mild to severe brain injuries resulting from being near such explosions.

The new regulation describes traumatic brain injury, commonly called TBI, as an injury that has immediate effects, such as loss of consciousness, amnesia, and other neurological symptoms. The problems could be temporary, but also may cause prolonged effects such as physical or mental impairment or emotional and behavior problems.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/military_veteransaffairs_tbi_092308w/%2e