Sarah Palin is taking heavy fire from veterans groups who say she shouldn’t blame President Barak Obama for the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that she claims her oldest son is battling.

Track Palin, 26, was arrested Monday in Wasilla, Alaska, after he allegedly hit his girlfriend in the face, kicked her in the knee, and threatened suicide with an AR-15 assault rifle. He was charged with possession of a firearm while intoxicated and assault, and interfering with a report of domestic violence.

On Wednesday, the former Alaska governor and GOP vice presidential candidate addressed her son’s arrest at her first stop on the campaign trail for Donald Trump after endorsing his run for president. She appeared to point the finger at Obama over mental issues her son may be dealing with following his Iraq war service.

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“My son, like so many others, they come back a bit different,” she said in Tulsa, Okla. “They come back hardened. They come back wondering if there is that respect for what it is that their fellow soldiers and airmen and every other member of the military have sacrificially given to this country and that starts at the top.

“So when my own son is going through what he is going through coming back, I can certainly relate with other families who kinda feel these ramifications of some PTSD.” she said.

Paul Rieckhoff, who heads the New York City-based Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), criticized Palin for her comments and urged her "resist the urge to politicize" PTSD.

"I hope this doesn't become a political chew toy in a political campaign," Rieckoff told NBC News.

"It's not President Obama's fault that Sarah Palin's son has PTSD," added Rieckhoff, whose nonpartisan organization that has fought for years to get Iraq and Afghanistan war vets help with mental health issues. "PTSD is a very serious problem, a complicated mental health injury and I would be extremely reluctant to blame any one person in particular."

He added: "it's important to recognize that Track may need help like many veterans" — and that Palin is in a position to use her influence to help him and other vets.

"This is a great opportunity for Sarah Palin to sound the alarm about PTSD," he said. "Now that she has endorsed Mr. Trump, I would encourage her to talk with him about it. Mr. Trump's campaign is pretty light on specifics about what he would do for veterans."

Track Palin served in Iraq with the Alaska-based 25th Infantry Division's 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team for a year in 2008 — while George W. Bush was still president.

PTSD is more common among veterans, but nearly 8 percent of all Americans experience PTSD at some point in their lives, experts estimate. People with PTSD have experienced a traumatic, sometimes life-threatening event that leaves them feeling afraid that they have no control over what is happening.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:

• About 8 out of every 100 people will have PTSD at some point in their lives.
• Nearly 8 million adults have PTSD during a given year.
• People are more likely to develop PTSD if they were directly exposed to the trauma as a victim or a witness, seriously hurt during the event, were in danger or believed a friend or family member was at risk, and felt helpless in the situation.

You are also more likely to develop PTSD if you:

•    Had an earlier life-threatening event or trauma, such as being abused as a child.
•    Have another mental health problem or a family history of such issues.
•    Have little support from family and friends.
•    Have recently lost a loved one, especially if it was not expected
•    Have had recent, stressful life changes.
•    Drink a lot of alcohol

The number of veterans with PTSD varies by service era:

Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom: About 11-20 out of every 100 veterans of these initiatives have PTSD in a given year.

Gulf War (Desert Storm): About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War Veterans have PTSD in a given year.

Vietnam War: As many as 30 out of every 100 Vietnam Veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD at some point in their lives.