(KGNS) - A Laredo Navy veteran's painting has been selected to represent Texas statewide after he said art helped him manage his PTSD.

Hector Leal, a U.S. Navy veteran living with PTSD, said painting has become part of his daily life."Sometimes the problems aren't physical; they're more mental. I feel like mental health is a very important thing, because if you're not healthy in your mind, your body will reflect it," Leal said.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly one in four veterans in VA care experience PTSD, a rate higher than the general population.