Head Injuries 25 Years Ago, Problems Today; Tbi?

[Vync]

Hello everyone,

I have practically no experience with TBI. I read through a number of topics here and on the VA site, but this situation deals with head injuries 25 years ago and possible problems developing recently.

A friend of mine retired from the Army in the late 1980's. He is about 65 years old and served for one year in Vietnam. During the last few years, he had a couple of head injuries occur, but only recently started developing some cognitive problems. He has no family history of mental problems, dementia, or Alzheimer's.

Active Duty Injury 1

He was attending the 5pm cannon/bugle detail, but stood too close to the cannon. When it fired, he passed out cold and fell to the ground.

Active Duty Injury 2

He was walking under the barrel of an artillery cannon and it struck him in the center of his forehead, knocking him to the ground. We discovered this when watching some old videos where he was laying on the couch with an ice pack on his forehead. He lifted the ice pack to reveal a bloody wound and he verbally described what happened.

Over the past year, his family and I have observed the following problems, which have increased in severity:

Memory

- Forgets key events (recent or from years ago)

- May tell you the same story several times, forgetting he told it already

- Gets lost while driving

- Leaves stove on

Poor judgement

- Leaves house unlocked and front door wide open

- Impulse buying (hundreds of dollars) with no regard to his budget

Other

- Easily irritable and frustrated

- Periodically enters a trance-like state and gazes into nothingness

- Less interest in things he previously enjoyed

- Reduced motivation

I helped him start the process of gathering his service and medical records and he has a neurologist follow up appointment later in the week.

Is it possible to have a couple of head injuries 25 years ago, but now just start developing increased TBI-like symptoms?

Are there any factors to look for?

What questions should they ask his doctor?

Thanks

[63SIERRA]

no I was sitting under the tractor trailer for a LONG time. I believe the truck showed up to take us somewhere and I stood up under the semi trailer normally like I always do. I banged my head on the solid steel underframe of the trailer I passed out face first. I dont know how long I was out. I was super embaressed and had a headache all day. I never went on sick call.

This was while I was in iraq and the war was going on. no big shootouts or anything though. ive heard that if you file something during combat the va is suposed to take your word for it.

[63SIERRA]

I havent claimed it because im so shellshocked form the va denying most of my claims and insinuating that im lying, I feel it would be a waste of time. I have memory problems , especially directional .For instance when I was doing appliance repair, I couldnt remember where customers houses were, I had to GPS every time. And going into different houses was scary because one time, I told the lady I would be back in a couple days to fix her washer, after I got the part ordered. I grabbed my toolbox, went to leave, and opened what I thought was the garage door, and stared into the closet.

I literally had to memorize my way thru peoples house, L, TURN, L TURN, RIGHT TURN, LAUNDERY ROOM.

Then I had to try and reverse the way out in my head. L TURN, RIGHT TURN, RIGHT TURN, FRONT DOOR.

CRAZY Huh, And sometimes I was so stressed out abt getting lost in folks houses, I couldnt concentrate on fixing thier stuff

[free_spirit_etc]

Oh.. that makes more sense. Without that part of the story, I thought you meant you had fried your brain.

I am not sure that the VA actually takes your word for anything. But if something occurred during combat, then they are supposed to grant you more of a benefit of the doubt in considering your lay testimony. I would still be hesitant to have only that. Buddy statements can always help. Notations in the medical record are better.

[63SIERRA]

One time I went into a pediatric clinic to work on a washer. The whole building was painted with clouds on the walls and looked the same. It was like a maze. None of the doors had writing on them. On the way out the first time, I walked in on an examination and the doctor was pissed. I just wanted to run to my truck , hop in and never return.

[free_spirit_etc]

As for me, I am always lost... I miss my husband because he could always direct me home from wherever I was (like the driveway...)

One time when he was in the hospital he told the nurse he had to come down and meet me to show me where his room was. The nurse told him to just tell me to go to the ER and turn right. He told the nurse, "You don't know my wife..."

LOLOLOL

Seriously though... sometimes they can do tests and see what is going on. My son had an EEG and the doctor told me he had brain patterns in the left temporal lobe that were consistent with a serious closed head injury. I told the doctor that he had banged his head and stuff. The doctor said it would be more like a car wreck or falling out of a window. But I never did figure out what could have caused it.

But they can test for lots of things. The problem would be convincing the VA at this point.

[63SIERRA]

My va is so doubting thomas abt everything they would likelly just blow it off and say something stupid like, well u found your way here didnt ya? yes thanks to , TOM, tom, garmin, ect.