Active duty and reserve service members are at increased risk for sustaining a TBI compared to their civilian peers. This is a result of several factors, including the specific demographics of the military; in general, young men between the ages of 18 to 24 are at greatest risk for TBI. Many operational and training activities, which are routine in the military, are physically demanding and even potentially dangerous. To get an idea of how many TBIs are sustained by each branch, each year since 2000 — check out the TBI DoD Worldwide Numbers page.

If you or a service member you care for is looking for more information about TBI, check out the Patient and Family Resources page — there you will find fact sheets, caregiver guides, and other patient resources. Review them with a medical provider as you work towards recovery or help the recovery process of a service member, veteran or family member.

Recent attention has been intensively focused on combat-related TBI, it should be noted that TBI is not uncommon even in garrison and can occur during usual daily activities. Service members enjoy exciting leisure activities: They ride motorcycles, climb mountains and parachute from planes for recreation. In addition, physical training is an integral part of the active duty service member's everyday life. These activities are expected for our service members and contribute to a positive quality of life; but these activities also can increase risk for TBI.

To learn more about how to protect yourself in non-combat daily life activities, check out our A Head for the Future initiative. You'll find TBI basics information, fact sheets to help guide you in protecting your head during sports and recreational activity, and read personal TBI recovery stories. 

Sign up for TBI Resources Update email for the latest in TBI information and resources for service members, veterans, and their caregivers and families.

Health care providers can make a significant difference in the life of someone with TBI by working to understand the strategies which are used to identify and treat a brain injury. Service members and veterans with TBI are a unique population because they may have experienced circumstances that further complicate their clinical picture. These circumstances include multiple deployments, prolonged periods of stress, chronic pain, and separation from family and friends.

Traumatic brain injury is a complex condition that can affect multiple aspects of physical, cognitive and behavioral functions. A wide range of medical specialties may be involved with the assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of TBI patients, particularly in cases of severe TBI. These specialties can include, but are not limited to, audiology, ophthalmology, neurology, physical therapy, psychology, psychiatry, endocrinology, speech and language pathology and occupational therapy. Often, a multidisciplinary team is assembled to provide comprehensive care. In addition to specialty providers, primary care providers are integral in the identification and treatment of service members with TBI. Visit the Provider Resources and Provider Education pages for clinical recommendations, clinical support tools and provider education materials.

Sign up for our Providers' Brief email to get information on new and revised TBI clinical recommendations, educational tools, research trends, and other resources that help medical providers evaluate and treat those who have sustained a TBI.

Get to know TBICoE—meet some of the people and learn about their work. Download the report.

2017

• DVBIC became TBI center of excellence under Defense Health Agency
• Results of the “Study of Cognitive Rehabilitation Effectiveness” (SCORE) were published in September in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation demonstrating that therapist directed methods most effectively improve functional cognitive abilities after TBI
• DVBIC produced a report on existing and emerging TBI research gaps and priorities most relevant to the DoD and MHS
• DVBIC released the clinical recommendation “Management of Headache Following Concussion/Mild TBI: Guidance for Primary Care Management in Deployed and Non-Deployed Settings”
• DVBIC launched a podcast for caregivers of service members and veterans with TBI called The TBI Family

2016

• DVBIC became TBI center of excellence under Defense Health Agency
• Results of the “Study of Cognitive Rehabilitation Effectiveness” (SCORE) were published in September in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation demonstrating that therapist directed methods most effectively improve functional cognitive abilities after TBI
• DVBIC produced a report on existing and emerging TBI research gaps and priorities most relevant to the DoD and MHS
• DVBIC released the clinical recommendation “Management of Headache Following Concussion/Mild TBI: Guidance for Primary Care Management in Deployed and Non-Deployed Settings”
• DVBIC launched The TBI Family podcast, a series for caregivers of service members and veterans with TBI

2015

• DVBIC released a new concussion fact sheet for patients: Help With Ongoing Symptoms
• DVBIC completed data collection for the congressionally mandated "Study of Cognitive Rehabilitation Effectiveness for Mild TBI (SCORE)," and published study manuals
• DVBIC published findings for the "Head to Head" study on the reliability and validity of computerized neurocognitive assessment tests

2014

• Defense Department designated DVBIC as the manager of the TBI Pathway of Care for the Military Health System
• DVBIC collaborated with the Department of Veterans Affairs and National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research on the study for Improved Understanding of Medical and Psychological Needs in Veterans and Service Members with Chronic TBI (IMAP) to examine disability care needs in the first five years after injury
• Navy Medical Center San Diego is funded for two studies exploring neurological damage caused by low-level blast
• DVBIC released clinical recommendation "Progressive Return to Activity Following Acute Concussion/Mild TBI in Deployed and Non-Deployed Settings for Primary Care Managers and Rehabilitation Providers"
• DVBIC released clinical recommendation: Management of Sleep Disturbances Following Concussion/Mild TBI

2013

• DVBIC released clinical recommendations: Assessment and Management of Visual Dysfunction Associated with Mild TBI and Neuroimaging Following Mild TBI in Non-Deployed Settings

2012

• DVBIC marked 20 years of service
• Defense Department issued updated guidance on how to manage concussion in the deployed setting (DoDI 6490.11)

2011

• Recruitment started for the congressionally mandated 15-year study of mild, moderate and severe TBI

2009

• DVBIC partnered with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on a mission to Iraq and Afghanistan, seeking to optimize and improve care of our wounded warriors with TBI and concussion
• DVBIC led the U.S. delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exploratory team on concussion/mild TBI to begin development of international standards
• Participated in the first U.S.-Japan TBI symposium as well as military information exchanges with both Israel and the Republic of Korea

2008

• Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense Evidence-Based Work Group convened to work on evidence-based guidelines for mild traumatic brain injury/concussion

2007

• DVBIC mission expanded to include TBI surveillance per Department of Defense-Health Affairs policy
• DVBIC designated the primary operational TBI component of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE)

2006

• Military Acute Concussion Evaluation (MACE) deployed
• Completed a second randomized study of two approaches to TBI rehabilitation in a large sample of Department of Veterans Affairs patients with moderate-to-severe TBI

2005

• TBI surveillance efforts began per tasking of the Office of the Surgeon General and Department of Defense-Health Affairs
• Department of Veterans Affairs augmented DVBIC resources to create polytrauma system of care

2001

• DVHIP renamed Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center

1993-2000

• DVHIP documented incidence of TBI during peacetime

1992

• Congress established Defense and Veterans Head Injury Program (DVHIP).