For his actions, he was dismissed from the Army with a general discharge in 2007. Two months later, he said, Department of Veterans’ Affairs doctors properly diagnosed him with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. That led him to appeal the Army Discharge Review Board’s decision several times. He sent in more than 600 pages of mental health records and detailed over half a decade of continuous treatment. After the denials, he decided to head to Washington, D.C., to speak with lawmakers in the hope of making sure no one else had to go through what he did.

In the capital, Goldsmith received guidance from Nassau Community College’s general counsel for governmental and media relations, Chuck Cutolo. He met with dozens of congressional representatives and veterans’ groups, eventually working with Gillibrand and Tester to help develop the legislation.

“[This] is a story of how out of horrendous situations, ideas for remedies can emerge,” Cutolo said. “But it takes the work of people like Kris, whose dogged persistence is matched only by his articulateness, and the help, skills and commitment of senators like Gillibrand and Tester and their staffers for realistic approaches to emerge that go beyond good intentions and can become good legislation and effective laws.”

For the legislation to become law, it needs sponsorship in the House of Representatives, where Goldsmith and other NCC veterans have met with lawmakers.

PTSD facts and figures

BY THE NUMBERS:

       - Number of Long Island veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder: 750

       - Number with traumatic brain injuries: 700

       - Number suffering from both: 400

(Source: Rand Corporation)