How Many Service Members Have Sustained a TBI?

U.S. Department of Defense
Department of Defense: Military TBI Numbers 2000-2017

Below is data provided by the Department of Defense on the number of service members with a first-time TBI diagnosis since 2000:

Service members can sustain a TBI during day-to-day activities, military training and military deployment. The majority of traumatic brain injuries sustained by members of the U.S. Armed Forces are classified as mild TBI/concussion. This report is also available for download here.


Military Brain Injury Statistics

TBI Diagnoses


TBI Severity


TBI Incidence by Armed Forces Branch


TBI Data by Armed Forces Branch

Army

ServiceComponentSeverityDiagnosed
ArmyActivePenetrating2,553
Severe1,871
Moderate16,147
Mild140,746
Not Classifiable11,834
GuardPenetrating491
Severe365
Moderate3,160
Mild29,204
Not Classifiable2,269
ReservePenetrating167
Severe181
Moderate1,512
Mild13,501
Not Classifiable1,143

2000-2018 Q1, as of June 21, 2018


Navy

ServiceComponentSeverityDiagnosed
NavyActivePenetrating592
Severe473
Moderate5,337
Mild39,546
Not Classifiable2,272
ReservePenetrating45
Severe30
Moderate396
Mild3,288
Not Classifiable169

2000-2018 Q1, as of June 21, 2018


Air Force

ServiceComponentSeverityDiagnosed
Air ForceActivePenetrating497
Severe418
Moderate4,196
Mild37,867
Not Classifiable1,330
GuardPenetrating53
Severe37
Moderate492
Mild4,290
Not Classifiable151
ReservePenetrating31
Severe26
Moderate290
Mild2,510
Not Classifiable94

2000-2018 Q1, as of June 21, 2018


Marines

ServiceComponentSeverityDiagnosed
MarinesActivePenetrating712
Severe613
Moderate5,452
Mild41,355
Not Classifiable1,885
ReservePenetrating65
Severe53
Moderate442
Mild3,590
Not Classifiable197

2000-2018 Q1, as of June 21, 2018

Posted on BrainLine January 4, 2019. Reviewed January 4, 2019.
Source: Defense Medical Surveillance System (DMSS) and Theater Medical Data Store (TMDS) provided by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch (AFHSB). Prepared by the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC). DVBIC is the Defense Department’s office of responsibility for tracking traumatic brain injury (TBI) data in the U.S. military.