RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CLINICAL CARE PROGRAM ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

SEC. 1704. RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CLINICAL CARE PROGRAM ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.(a) In General.—To improve the provision of health care by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with traumatic brain injuries, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—(1) conduct research, including—(A) research on the sequelae of mild to severe forms of traumatic brain injury;(B) research on visually-related neurological conditions;(C) research on seizure disorders;(D) research on means of improving the diagnosis, rehabilitative treatment, and prevention of such sequelae;(E) research to determine the most effective cognitive and physical therapies for such sequelae;(F) research on dual diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury;(G) research on improving facilities of the Department concentrating on traumatic brain injury care; and(H) research on improving the delivery of traumatic brain injury care by the Department;(2) educate and train health care personnel of the Department in recognizing and treating traumatic brain injury; and(3) develop improved models and systems for the furnishing of traumatic brain injury care by the Department.(b) Collaboration.—In carrying out research under subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall collaborate with—(1) facilities that conduct research on rehabilitation for individuals with traumatic brain injury;(2) facilities that receive grants for such research from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the Department of Education; and(3) the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center of the Department of Defense and other relevant programs of the Federal Government (including Centers of Excellence).(c) Dissemination of Useful Information.—The Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health shall ensure that information produced by the research, education and training, and clinical activities conducted under this section that may be useful for other activities of the Veterans Health Administration is disseminated throughout the Veterans Health Administration.(d) Traumatic Brain Injury Registry.—(1) In general.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish and maintain a registry to be known as the “Traumatic Brain Injury Veterans Health Registry” (in this section referred to as the “Registry”).122 STAT. 491(2) Description.—The Registry shall include the following information:(A) A list containing the name of each individual who served as a member of the Armed Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom who exhibits symptoms associated with traumatic brain injury, as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and who—(i) applies for care and services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code; or(ii) files a claim for compensation under chapter 11 of such title on the basis of any disability which may be associated with such service.(B) Any relevant medical data relating to the health status of an individual described in subparagraph (A) and any other information the Secretary considers relevant and appropriate with respect to such an individual if the individual—(i) grants permission to the Secretary to include such information in the Registry; or(ii) is deceased at the time such individual is listed in the Registry.(3) Notification.—When possible, the Secretary shall notify each individual listed in the Registry of significant developments in research on the health consequences of military service in the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom theaters of operations.