Traumatic Brain Injury: Better DOD and VA Oversight Can Help Ensure More Accurate, Consistent, and Timely Decisions for the Traumatic Injury Insurance Program

Abstract

In 2005, Congress created a traumatic injury insurance benefit program, known as TSGLI, to help servicemembers with traumatic brain injury and other serious injuries with the financial burdens that they and their families face. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers the program, in collaboration with the Department of Defense (DOD), while the branches of service are responsible for deciding servicemembers claims. GAO examined (1) the TSGLI approval rate for traumatic brain injury claimants, and whether DOD and VA have assurance that claims are processed accurately, consistently, and in a timely manner and (2) any challenges servicemembers with traumatic brain injury may have faced in accessing TSGLI benefits, and the extent to which DOD and VA have taken steps to address such challenges. GAO analyzed program data and interviewed DOD and VA officials, servicemembers, and medical professionals.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA493176

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Brain Injuries
  • Cognitive Impairment
  • Congress
  • Craniocerebral Trauma
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of Veterans Affairs
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Health Services
  • Law
  • Paralysis
  • Rehabilitation
  • Therapy
  • Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Wounds And Injuries

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Mental Health of Military Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Risk Factors, Prevalence, Symptoms, and Treatment.