Important Information For Veterans With Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

Dr. Lee E. Goldstein of Boston University’s School of Medicine has announced that he has found a connection between chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and some disabled veterans with brain trauma. The study is the first to provide a link between the progressive, degenerative brain wasting disease that plagues athletes who play contact sports and soldiers who are exposed to blasts while in combat.

How do veterans end up suffering from the same brain disease as boxers, hockey players, and football players? Experts believe it is largely due to two things that are all too common in today’s fighting soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan:

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
Rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs)

Both types of weapons can cause explosions that affect the brain – even when service men and women do not suffer a classic concussion or even lose consciousness.

What are the signs and symptoms of CTE? Even though CTE can only be officially diagnosed by examining brain matter, the disease is associated with:

Slowed movements
Poor judgment
Behavioral issues
Tremors
Confusion
Headaches
Vertigo
Erratic behavior
Cognitive issues
Gait issues
Hearing loss
Memory loss
Slurred speech and speech issues
Dementia
Symptoms that resemble Parkinson’s disease

If you are struggling with disabilities linked to a brain injury (or brain injuries) you received during your service in the military, you may be eligible for veterans’ disability benefits. The Dallas disability attorneys at Morgan & Weisbrod can help. Call us today at 800.800.6353.

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