WASHINGTON – The full House Veterans' Affairs Committee has passed Congressman John Hall's (D-Dover) legislation to increase access to treatment and benefits for veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and other injuries.

The measure, Compensation Owed for Mission Based Activities in Theatre (COMBAT) Act, would remove the burden from disabled veterans who have to prove that a specific incident during combat caused his or her disability.

Hall's COMBAT Act would make it so that any veteran who served in combat will automatically have the ability to get treatment and benefits for injuries incurred during service.

"Currently there is an onerous burden put on the veteran, especially those diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder to prove combat zone stressors," said Hall. "Instead of helping these veterans, the VA acts as an obstacle, inflicting upon the most noble of our citizens a process that feels accusatory and disbelieving. The current process is complex, legalistic and protracted, and particularly difficult for veterans because of the stresses and uncertainties involved while facing skeptical and cynical attitudes of VA staff."

The VA's current policy forces veterans to "prove" that a specific stressor during a war triggered their PTSD, even if they have already been diagnosed and been receiving treatment for the condition. Veterans must track down incident reports, buddy statements, present medals, and leap other hurdles to validate to the VA that their PTSD was a result from their war service.

The bill now goes to the full House for its consideration.