New VA Bill Authorizes Alternative Oxygen Therapy for Vets with TBI/PTSD, Bypassing Opioids

The HBOT Access Act of 2025 is aimed squarely at the crisis of veteran suicide, which Congress notes is alarmingly high. This bill doesn’t just talk about the problem; it directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to actively explore non-drug, non-surgical options for treating Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The Search for the Non-Opioid Fix

Congress is pretty clear in its findings (SEC. 2): it wants the VA to start looking into alternative treatments for TBI and PTSD that don't rely on prescription drugs, opioids, or invasive surgery. This is a huge signal that policymakers are finally taking seriously the need to move away from the current pharmaceutical-heavy approach to mental health and injury recovery, especially for those who served. For a veteran dealing with chronic pain and mental trauma, this bill opens the door to options that won’t carry the risk of addiction or severe side effects often associated with long-term medication use.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: A New Authorization

Specifically, the bill authorizes the VA Secretary to provide Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to veterans diagnosed with TBI or PTSD (SEC. 3). HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. While it’s been used for decades for things like decompression sickness, its application for TBI and PTSD symptoms is what the VA is now tasked with implementing. This is a big deal because it means the VA is officially acknowledging a non-traditional therapy as a viable treatment path for these conditions.

The Catch: You Have to Try Other Stuff First

Now, here’s the fine print, and it’s important. Access to HBOT isn't immediate. The bill states that a veteran must have already tried and used at least two different treatment options that are considered “evidence-based” for their condition before they can get the HBOT (SEC. 3). Think of it like this: if you’re a veteran with PTSD, you’ll likely need to go through two rounds of standard therapy—maybe Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE)—and if those don’t work, then you get access to the oxygen therapy.

This requirement is designed to ensure that standard, proven methods are exhausted first, but it also creates a potential delay. For a veteran in crisis, having to wait through two failed treatment protocols before accessing a potentially helpful alternative could be frustrating. It adds a bureaucratic hoop, though one intended to maintain medical rigor. The VA will need to be very clear about what counts as “evidence-based” so that veterans and their doctors know exactly what steps they need to take to qualify for HBOT. Ultimately, this bill is a positive step toward expanding treatment options for veterans, offering a new path for those who haven’t found relief with conventional methods.