Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) is co-sponsoring legislation to help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

In 2005, 19-year-old Kristopher Goldsmith, of Bellmore, was deployed to Iraq as a member of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division. Some of his duties included photographing mass graves. Goldsmith says that a year later, he began to suffer from panic attacks and depression related to PTSD. After a suicide attempt, Goldsmith says he was kicked out of the military for what they considered misconduct and then denied certain benefits.

Goldsmith is pushing lawmakers to create The Fairness for Veterans Act, co-sponsored by King.

"So what this does is it says if you've committed any action that's caused you to get a less than honorable discharge, and that was because of PTSD, that you should get an honorable discharge, and be eligible for full veteran's benefits," says King.

King expects the bill to be passed by the end of this year

According to the VA, roughly 1 in 4 veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2009 suffer from PTSD. Long Island has the largest military veteran population in New York state.