Defense Health Care: DOD Should Assess Its Needs for Managing Potential Brain Health Effects from Weapons Blast Exposures

What GAO Found The Department of Defense (DOD) and its components—relevant DOD offices and the military departments (Army, Navy, and Air Force)—are taking steps to prevent and mitigate the brain health effects of blast exposure. In 2024, DOD established several blast overpressure requirements, including one requiring that brain health be monitored. Specifically, this requires that all high-risk active duty service members complete a baseline cognitive assessment in fiscal year 2025 and all new service members complete one during initial military training.