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Brian 50 LCDR United States Army

Surprise, AZ United States

I was working in DC in a Joint Staff position when I was deployed to Texas for Hurricane Ike disaster relief. While helping set up the field medical station on the campus of Texas A&M U. I suffered a TBI along with several other severe injuries from a freik fall accident. I have no memory of the incident or trip to the local medical center. This was almost two years ago. Since then I have been treated at Walter Reed AMC, NNMC Bethesda, civilian medical centers and the VA medical center in Phoenix. I was medically discharged and am waiting decision on PDRL. I am also on SSDI. I was informed by the VA's Voc Rehab people that I am not employable. All this not from a combat injury but from a deployment on the homefront. But because of this I am in a different category of care since I am not OIF/OEF. In my opinion this should not be the case in our military treatment system as well as VA health system. I have had a very hard time getting help and assistance in coordination of my care. Because of a history of past head injuries and other traumatic events I believe this injury is worse and has created severe symptoms of PTSD which I never had before. I feel like a totally different person now with my past life turned upside down. I know I don't have it nearly as bad as many returning veterans but the invisible injuries can be just as bad as the visible ones. I have been shot, stabbed and assaulted in the past and got through it but for the first time I feel like I am up against a brick wall. I have asked my wife to go over this to see that it is written correctly and makes sense. I don't know if it does but I'll submit it anyway...