Purple Heart to go to US troops with brain injury?RSS Feed

US troops who suffer brain injury in combat could soon be eligible for the Purple Heart, according to a report.

Currently, the Purple Heart honours those wounded or killed in war, but military authorities are now considering also recognising those with mild traumatic brain injury or concussion with the award, reports the Marine Corps Times.

Army Lieutenant-Colonel Steve Warren, spokesman for Vice Chief of Staff General Peter Chiarelli, said: "Up to now, he thinks soldiers have received concussions and not received Purple Hearts as they should."

It is unknown whether any new guidelines that may arise as a result of the discussions would apply retroactively.

The site reports that more than 202,000 US troops have been diagnosed with some form of traumatic brain injury since 2000.

This comes after My Health News Daily reported that a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that one in ten Iraq war veterans develop serious mental problems such as violent behaviour, depression and alcoholism.

News by Serious Law. Expert legal assistance for those affected by brain injury

Posted by Matthew Heap
 

Rise in minor league hockey brain injury 'due to bodychecking'

16 March 2011

Brain injury has seen a sharp rise in minor ice hockey players in Canada since the bodychecking rules were relaxed for nine and ten year olds, a study has shown.Minor league hockey players were found to...

Read More...

RVO patients 'at higher risk of stroke'

15 March 2011

Individuals with a condition known as retinal vein occlusion (RVO) have a higher risk of suffering the brain injury seen in stroke, research has shown.A study published in journal Archives of Ophthalmology...

Read More...

Protein discovery 'to further understanding of brain disorders'

15 March 2011

Research has uncovered an essential protein which looks set to further understanding of the brain injury seen in conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke and dementia.Scientists at the University...

Read More...