Noteboom The Law Firm

Army Amending Standards For Awarding Purple Heart

March 21, 2011 - The Army is expanding the type and severity of the wounds qualifying soldiers for purple hearts. The new standards will allow purple hearts to be issued for more battlefield concussions. More than that, the standards will likely be made retroactive so that potentially thousands of soldiers will receive the award for which they were previously denied.

Recent research indicated slight episodes of either dizziness or headaches could be indicative of suffering a concussion. The decision on if a particular soldier qualified for the purple heart, however, ultimately was always left to either their examining doctor or the battlefield commander.

The unwritten battlefield standard has always been, "you have to bleed to get the medal." New rules however, spell out what circumstances and symptoms must surround a concussion in order to qualify for the purple heart. Soldiers are still required to receive medical care in order to be awarded the medal. The new rules define medical care for concussions to include taking Tylenol and resting. Defining concussion symptoms include: 

• Momentary loss of consciousness or memory;
• Dizziness;
• Headache;
• Nausea; or
• Sensitivity to light.

Twenty-six thousand soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan were award purple hearts for awards other than concussions. Comparatively, 80,000 soldiers have received concussions since 2001, most of them coming from roadside blasts. Many celebrate the changes as adding clarity to what wounds qualify for a purple heart. Others are worried about lowering the value and meaning of wearing a purple heart.