| 1 | DVBCTBI2 ;ALB/RLC TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) WKS TEXT - 1 ; 12 FEB 2007
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| 2 |  ;;2.7;AMIE;**125**;Apr 10, 1995;Build 9
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| 3 |  ;
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| 4 |  ;
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| 5 | TXT ;
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| 6 |  ;;Narrative:  The potential residuals of traumatic brain injury necessitate
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| 7 |  ;;a comprehensive examination to document all disabling effects.  Specialist
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| 8 |  ;;examinations, such as eye and audio examinations, mental disorder
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| 9 |  ;;examinations, and others, may also be needed in some cases, as indicated
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| 10 |  ;;below.  If possible, conduct a thorough review of the service and post-
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| 11 |  ;;service medical records prior to the examination.
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| 12 |  ;;
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| 13 |  ;;A. Review of Medical Records:
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| 14 |  ;;
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| 15 |  ;;B. Medical History (Subjective Complaints):
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| 16 |  ;;
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| 17 |  ;;   1. Report date(s) and nature of injury.
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| 18 |  ;;   2. State severity rating of traumatic brain injury (TBI) at time of injury.
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| 19 |  ;;   3. State whether condition has stabilized.  If not, provide estimate
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| 20 |  ;;      of when stability may be expected (typically within 18-24 months of
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| 21 |  ;;      initial injury).
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| 22 |  ;;
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| 23 |  ;;   Inquire specifically about each symptom or area of symptoms below, since
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| 24 |  ;;   individuals with TBI may have difficulty organizing and communicating
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| 25 |  ;;   their symptoms without prompting.  It is important to document all
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| 26 |  ;;   problems, whether subtle or pronounced, so that the veteran can be
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| 27 |  ;;   appropriately evaluated for all disabilities due to TBI.
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| 28 |  ;;
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| 29 |  ;;      For each of the following symptoms that is present, answer specific
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| 30 |  ;;      questions asked.
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| 31 |  ;;
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| 32 |  ;;        a. headaches - frequency, severity, duration, and if they most
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| 33 |  ;;           resemble migraine, tension-type, or cluster headaches
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| 34 |  ;;        b. dizziness or vertigo - frequency
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| 35 |  ;;        c. weakness or paralysis - location
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| 36 |  ;;        d. sleep disturbance - type and frequency
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| 37 |  ;;        e. fatigue - severity
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| 38 |  ;;        f. malaise
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| 39 |  ;;        g. mobility - state symptoms
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| 40 |  ;;        h. balance - state any problems
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| 41 |  ;;        i. if ambulatory, what device, if any, is needed to assist walking?
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| 42 |  ;;        j. memory impairment - mild, moderate, severe
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| 43 |  ;;        k. Other cognitive problems Y/N?  If yes:
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| 44 |  ;;               i. Slowness of thought
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| 45 |  ;;              ii. Confusion
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| 46 |  ;;             iii. Decreased attention
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| 47 |  ;;              iv. Difficulty concentrating
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| 48 |  ;;               v. Difficulty understanding directions
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| 49 |  ;;              vi. Difficulty using written language or comprehending
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| 50 |  ;;                  written words
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| 51 |  ;;             vii. Delayed reaction time
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| 52 |  ;;            viii. Other - box to describe
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| 53 |  ;;
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| 54 |  ;;         l. speech or swallowing difficulties - severity and specific type
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| 55 |  ;;            of problem - expressive aphasia?, difficulty with articulation
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| 56 |  ;;            because of injuries to mouth?, aspiration due to difficulty
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| 57 |  ;;            swallowing?, etc.
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| 58 |  ;;         m. pain - frequency, severity, duration, location, and likely cause
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| 59 |  ;;         n. bowel problems - extent and frequency of any fecal leakage and
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| 60 |  ;;            frequency of need for pads, if used; need for assistance in
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| 61 |  ;;            evacuating bowel (manual evacuation, suppositories, rectal
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| 62 |  ;;            stimulation, etc.) - report type and frequency of need for
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| 63 |  ;;            assistance.
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| 64 |  ;;         o. bladder problems - report the type of impairment (incontinence,
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| 65 |  ;;            urgency, urinary retention, etc.) and the measures needed:
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| 66 |  ;;            catheterization - constant or intermittent?, pads (must be
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| 67 |  ;;            changed how often per day?), other - describe).
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| 68 |  ;;         p. psychiatric symptoms
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| 69 |  ;;              mood swings
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| 70 |  ;;              anxiety
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| 71 |  ;;              depression
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| 72 |  ;;              other
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| 73 |  ;;         q. sexual dysfunction - type, and, if erectile dysfunction, state
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| 74 |  ;;            most likely cause and whether vaginal penetration is possible
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| 75 |  ;;         r. sensory changes, such as numbness or paresthesias - location
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| 76 |  ;;            and type
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| 77 |  ;;         s. visual problems, such as blurred or double vision - describe
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| 78 |  ;;         t. hearing problems, tinnitus - describe
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| 79 |  ;;         u. decreased sense of taste or smell - if present, follow
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| 80 |  ;;            examination protocol for Sense of Smell and Taste
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| 81 |  ;;         v. seizures - type and frequency
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| 82 |  ;;         w. hypersensitivity to sound or light - describe
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| 83 |  ;;         x. behavioral changes
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| 84 |  ;;              irritability
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| 85 |  ;;              restlessness
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| 86 |  ;;              other - describe
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| 87 |  ;;         y. oral and dental problems, such as difficulty with jaw movement,
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| 88 |  ;;            tooth loss or damage, etc. - describe
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| 89 |  ;;         z. other symptoms - describe
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| 90 |  ;;
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| 91 |  ;;   4. Report course of symptoms - are they improving, worsening in severity
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| 92 |  ;;      or frequency, or stable?
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| 93 |  ;;   5. List current treatments, condition for which each treatment is being
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| 94 |  ;;      given, response to treatment, and side effects.
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| 95 |  ;;
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