| 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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