Published Jun 10, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT
‘Get a bone density test starting at age 40,’ a shoulder and elbow surgeon told Military.com.
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Published Jun 10, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT
Dr. Shannon Carpenter is a rare breed among doctors. She wants to see fewer patients. The shoulder and elbow surgeon at the Kansas City VA Medical Center is finding ways to prevent bone fractures before they happen. She told Military.com that fragility fractures pose a serious, under-discussed threat to aging veterans, especially women, saying that prevention starts with the patient. As the population of aging women veterans grows and osteoporosis rises, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Carpenter believes bone-density screening should begin at age 40, rather than 50.
