全球智库信息集成服务系统

Key Findings

• Between 2002 and 2017, the Military Health System diagnosed more than 200,000 active-duty service members with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and nearly 300,000 with a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
• Over time, the share of service members with a PTSD diagnosis who were medically discharged increased significantly: from 16 percent in 2002 to 34 percent in 2015. Rates of medical discharge for service members with a TBI diagnosis increased from 7 to 18 percent between 2002 and 2015.
• Disability ratings for service members who were medically discharged for PTSD increased over time. In 2008, 57 percent of service members with a disability rating for PTSD had a total rating of 0–40 percent. In 2009, almost all had a total rating of 50 percent or higher. Service members with disability ratings 30 percent or higher receive lifetime financial and health care benefits.
• A better understanding of disability evaluation trends and outcomes can help the U.S. Department of Defense set goals for diagnosing, treating, and evaluating disabilities among wounded, injured, and ill service members in future conflicts.