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Brain Injury & Recovery-TBI Program

Contact Us

HeatherLynn Bahme

BS (Retired U.S.Army)
Brain Injury & Recovery-TBI Program Manager
Office: 509-828-0449
Heather.bahme@dva.wa.gov

Or

Email the Brain Injury & Recovery-TBI Program at: braininjuryrecovery@dva.wa.gov

VA Medical Centers:

Puget Sound VA Healthcare System
800-329-8387

Walla Walla
888-687-8863

Vancouver
800-949-1004

Spokane
800-325-7940

Tools

Statistics

FY 2024/2025

TBI Outreach Events- 77

Learning Events- 54 with 914 individual attendance/participation

Veterans Reached-901  

Family Members Reached- 76                  

Veterans with TBI 1:1 – 172

Brain Injury & Recovery Program Claims Submitted- 6

Brain Injury & Recovery Program Claims Currently being worked- 11

Brain Injury & Recovery Program Claims and Benefits Generated- $74,736.22

The WDVA Brain Injury & Recovery Program supports Washington veterans living with brain injury, diagnosed or not. We provide resources, guidance, and advocacy to help veterans access the care they need.

That means that we:

  • Offer one-on-one support to veterans navigating brain injury.
  • Connect veterans with trusted resources and referrals.
  • Champion the groups and agencies making a difference for our veteran community.
  • Provide training and guidance to any organization, summit, or event seeking to better support veterans living with brain injury or related symptoms.

Why we do it:

Veterans face brain injuries more often than civilians, especially the kind that go unnoticed. These injuries may not seem “serious,” so they’re often left untreated. As a result, many veterans carry invisible wounds without knowing they need care.

Common causes include blast exposure during deployments and TBIs from training or missions. Even without visible harm, these injuries can lead to lasting effects like migraines, memory loss, emotional challenges, and light sensitivity. They also increase the risk of substance use, homelessness, and suicide. Many veterans don’t realize their symptoms stem from a brain injury.

 

Upcoming Training & Meetings:

Forward2Gether Peer Groups: Once a month, next virtual group Tuesday January 13th, 2026

Forward

Learn more about our Monthly Peer Groups here.

 

Click on any of the other upcoming events lists below for more information and to register (Programs without links will open for registration soon!)

Program Course & Link Date Time
Brain Injury & Recovery artREMEDY: Foundations of Art and Health 2/26/2026 1:00pm-3:00pm
Brain Injury & Recovery Mindfulness Tools for Veterans & Families: Bridging the Gaps 3/12/2026 11:00am-12:00pm
Brain Injury & Recovery artREMEDY: Trauma-Informed Strengths-Based Practice 3/19/2026 1:00pm-3:00pm
Brain Injury & Recovery Mindfulness Tools for Veterans & Families: Bridging the Gaps 4/9/2026 11:00am-12:00pm
Brain Injury & Recovery Mindfulness Tools for Veterans & Families: Bridging the Gaps 5/14/2026 11:00am-12:00pm
Brain Injury & Recovery Mindfulness Tools for Veterans & Families: Bridging the Gaps 6/11/2026 11:00am-12:00pm
WDVA 2026 Serving Those Who Served Conference 8/19/2026 8:00am-5:00pm
WDVA 2026 Serving Those Who Served Conference 8/20/2026 8:00am-5:00pm

 

Interested in other WDVA education programs? Please visit our WDVA Veterans Training Support Center (VTSC) page!

 

Resources: