A traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when external forces—such as bumps, blows, or blasts—damage brain tissue or disrupt brain function for days, weeks, or longer. TBI can impact your mood and energy levels, cause headaches, and even result in memory loss. It also can affect your speech, balance, and motor coordination.
Mild traumatic brain injury pocket guide (CONUS) [PDF]
This guide from the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center serves as a reference for healthcare providers who are treating Service Members and Veterans diagnosed with concussion or mild TBI.
Concussion coach [App]
The Concussion Coach app is designed to help Veterans, Service Members, and others with mild to moderate TBI. Patients can use the app on its own or as part of a treatment plan with their healthcare providers. Created by DoD’s National Center for Telehealth & Technology, this app has information about TBI-related symptoms, self-assessments, tools for measuring severity of symptoms, and other recommended resources.
TBI symptoms
TBIs can affect your physical and mental health. This Health.mil webpage explores the different physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms you might experience after a TBI.
Interactive brain [Online tool]
Learn how a TBI affects brain areas with this interactive tool from the Air Force Center of Excellence for Medical Multimedia. View different parts of the brain and click on a lobe to find out how it functions under normal conditions vs. after a traumatic injury.
See also HPRC’s “Where do you serve?” section for your branch of service for additional policy and other branch-specific information. See our home page for links to each service branch.