Posted on May 23, 2018

Female veteran getting tested for traumatic brain injuries (TBI)According to the Journal of Women’s Health, 81, 850 cases of Traumatic Brain Injury (“TBI”) were reported by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center in 2010. Of those reports, 12%, or 9,822, involved women. Women with TBIs tend to report more symptoms and may take longer to heal.

While Thousands of Women Have Experienced a TBI, There is Very Little Relevant Research

Despite these high numbers, there is a dramatic lack of research regarding the effects of TBIs in women.

For example, VA-BU-CLF, the world’s largest brain bank, only has ten female brains available for research.  Further, there are only two studies which examine Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a disease which can be secondary to a TBI, in women.

A New Collaboration Seeks to Increase Research on TBIs in Women

A new collaboration between PINK Concussions, a nonprofit which works to improve “pre-injury education and post-injury medical care for women and girls challenged by brain injuries that come from sports, domestic violence, accidents, and military service,” and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (“VA”) seeks to even-out the research landscape by recruiting brain donations from women who have experienced a TBI.

200 women have already pledged to donate their brains to the VA’s brain bank in response to the collaboration.

We Win Disability Benefits for Women with TBIs

If you are a woman and you are or believe you may be affected by a TBI or any disability secondary to a TBI, such as PTSD, Parkinson's Disease, dementia, or seizures, you are likely eligible for disability benefits.

TBI claims can be complicated. They often require special evidence, such as medical expertise, to prove, and the VA tends to evaluate TBI-related claims improperly. However, working with an experienced veterans’ law attorney can go a long way towards putting together a successful claim.

At the Law Offices of Attorney Sean Kendall, we have decades of combined experience winning claims for veterans, including veterans with TBI-related symptoms, and we are confident we can win you the benefits you deserve. Therefore, if you have yet to apply for disability benefits, we encourage you to do so right away. If you have already applied and you received a denial or an unacceptable rating decision, don’t fret – send us a note or give us a call at (877) 629-1712 to discuss the possibility of an appeal.