Lawmaker presses DoD: Did shooter have TBI?

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/03/military-afghanistan-shooting-traumatic-brain-injury-031412w/

The chairman of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force is pressing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to disclose whether the alleged shooter in Sundays Afghanistan massacre had previously suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., asked the Defense Department on Tuesday to provide details of the soldiers medical health, including information about the injury, any diagnoses and related evaluations, and the terms of reinstatement to full duty.

Pascrell said the information is critical to determine whether the Pentagons identification and treatment of head injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder is sufficient.

I make no prejudgments as to whether or not this injury is related the tragedy that occurred. Whether PTSD or TBI are connected in any way to this horrific loss of innocent life in Afghanistan is a question that will be answered by a full and through investigation, Pascrell wrote.

But the information could lead to advanced care for troops, he said.

Over the years, I have become increasingly concerned that the departments system for indentifying service members with traumatic brain injuries has not been working, he said.

Sources have told The Associated Press the soldier, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade, out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., had experienced a head injury during a vehicle accident in Iraq on a previous deployment, but hed been cleared to deploy again.

The Pentagon said Monday it will not disclose the soldiers name until charges have been filed. Panetta is traveling in Afghanistan on Wednesday speaking with troops, Afghan defense officials and tribal leaders.

Pascrell established the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force in 2001 to promote awareness, funding and research for TBI treatment. He said he became aware of the problems facing patients with TBI when a 15-year-old in his district was struck by a car while walking home from a doctor's appointment.

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Lawmaker presses DoD: Did shooter have TBI?