The Signature Injury of Iraq and Afghanistan

A couple of months ago I read a book by ABC anchor Bob Woodruff and his wife: In an Instant. It talked about the brain injury he incurred while covering the Iraq war.

The roadside bomb or "IED" blew off the top of his head; he had to have a plate inserted to substitute for a piece of his skull. It was grim. But he did ultimately recover, and he and his wife formed the Woodruff Family Foundation to help fund the needs of brain-injury patients.

As I understand it, a person doesn't even have to be hit with shrapnel to incur a brain injury; merely the concussive force of the bomb is enough to do damage.

This is shaping up to be the signature combat injury of these wars, and it's unclear whether the VA is equipped to handle it.