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Coastal Authority Care Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes, specifically to provide grants to veterans with service-connected injuries, especially the “invisible wounds” of mild traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress and chronic pain. Our Emerging Therapy Grant program will help pay for evidence-based therapies, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy and neurofeedback, that is not yet covered by insurance, which heal the wound in the brain, provide symptom relief, help restore quality of life and reduce suicidal ideation.

Additionally, we may also provide grants to veterans, their spouse or other accompanying family member to help pay for travel and lodging expenses associated with therapy.

Eligible applicants for grants are veterans with service-connected injuries who are traveling to or live in Virginia to receive HBOT or neurotherapy for TBI and/or PTS. Click here to go do our Documents section and download the Medical Treatment Grant Application.

CACF was founded December 2015.

Our program provides grants to veterans with service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress (PTS), for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and/or neurofeedback with local service providers. Studies show and our experience has been that these therapies help heal the wound in the brain, improve symptoms and reduce suicidal ideation.

Traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress are the two most prevalent injuries suffered by members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center reports total cases of TBI from 2000 to Q4 2023 to be 499,852 with 82% of them categorized as mild TBI (concussion). Initially, there may be no observable head injury, even on imaging tests and some of the symptoms may be similar to other problems that stem from combat trauma (source: https://www.research.va.gov/topics/tbi.cfm). 

Suicide among veterans has increased dramatically since 9/11/2001 with untreated and undiagnosed TBI coming to light as a likely contributing factor. In fact, studies show individuals who suffer TBI are twice as likely to contemplate suicide compared to those without TBI and receiving multiple concussions has been associated with an even greater risk. Special Operations Forces have a 30% higher rate of suicide compared with the rest of the U.S. military. TBI/PTS are destroying the lives of our veterans at an alarming rate and leading health issues, poor quality of life and suicide.

TBI is caused by a jarring of the head possibly from a fall, explosion, repeated gunfire exposure or a blow to the head. The jarring causes damage to brain tissue, blood vessels and cells that link areas of the brain and the brain to the body. Common symptoms include but are not limited to confusion, vertigo, sleep disturbance, memory loss, headaches, blurred vision, tinnitus, mood swings, anger outbursts, depression and anxiety. These symptoms are insidious and worsen over time if left untreated, often leading to breakdown in relationships, divorce, separation, loneliness, job loss, early-onset dementia and suicide. Many veterans will not receive early diagnosis or will not seek treatment and in individuals with chronic, persistent symptoms of TBI, traditional medical interventions are less than successful.

HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY: HBOT is the use of 100% oxygen at higher than atmospheric pressure. By going under pressure, oxygen is forced into every tissue and cell helping to induce the body’s own natural healing process. Studies show HBOT can dramatically and permanently heal the wound in the brain and improve chronic symptoms of TBI months or years after the original head injury. Pre and post-treatment SPECT scans show improvement in blood flow and EEG shows improved brain function. Improvements are also seen in pre and post cognitive and symptoms using gold standard tests.

NEUROFEEDBACK: Very simply put, EEG measures electrical patterns at the surface of the scalp which primarily reflect cortical electrical activity or “brainwaves.” This data provides very specific information (a “roadmap”) about parts of the brain that are not functioning properly. Neurofeedback can then be used to send electromagnetic waves into targeted areas of the brain to basically retrain it to achieve improved functioning.

ELIGIBILITY: Eligible persons are veterans with service-connected injuries. They must provide a DD214 and documentation that the injury is service-connected and occurred during training, combat or while on the job. Such documentation may include doctor’s notes or other reasonable documentation connecting the injury to service.

GEOGRAPHIC AREAS COVERED: United States. Veterans can live in Virginia or be travelling into the area from other states for treatment.

FUNDING SOURCES: Fundraisers, grants and donations. 

PROGRAM INCEPTION: April 2019

Link: Hampton Roads Hyperbaric, Norfolk, VA

Link: NEUCOA