WASHINGTON, May 10 (UPI) -- U.S. soldiers would be screened for brain damage before and after being deployed to war zones under legislation introduced in the Congress.
Traumatic brain injury "has clearly emerged as the signature injury of the war in Iraq," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., one of the sponsors of the legislation.
The bill would coordinate brain injury services at the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration, improve the care that brain-injured soldiers receive and finance research into brain injuries, said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.
"Too many of our brave service men and women are coming home from war with serious injuries that may be overlooked because they don't bear any visible wounds or scars," Durbin said.
"We owe them the best treatment and support, while learning more about these injuries and their treatment. With that knowledge, we can moderate the impact (traumatic brain injury) has on the lives of our veterans and their families."
