Veterans Service Center
How Can We Help You?
Who We Are
We are county government employees whose job is to provide services and advocacy for Lake County’s Veterans. As County Veterans Service Officers, we act as a liaison between Veterans (and their dependents) and any agency from which they may be entitled to benefits such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Federal, and State and local agencies.
All of our services are FREE!
What We Do
Our staff will help you to obtain any Veterans related benefits to which you may be entitled to by:
- explaining available benefits
- assisting in obtaining necessary documentation
- completing forms and applications
- acting as your advocate throughout the entire process
We also offer temporary financial assistance in times of dire financial emergency for basic living needs such as rent, utility bills, food, and prescriptions. We will also help you seek other benefits to assist you on a long term basis.
Why Should You Come to Us?
County Veterans Service Officers (CVSO) are highly trained professionals. We must maintain state and federal accreditations and certifications. We are trained by VA employees and National Veterans Service Organizations to be able to properly and completely assist you through the sometimes daunting task of obtaining benefits from the VA. Most veterans who use the services of a CVSO find that their claims are processed quicker and more favorably ($$) (based on a study by the Institute for Defense Analysis).
MOST IMPORTANTLY, we are all VETERANS who care and are paid to help you at NO COST!!
All Veterans Service Officers on our staff have been trained and accredited by the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers. We also hold accreditations by the VFW, DAV, American Legion, Amvets, Marine Corps League, Ohio Department of Veterans Services, and the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs to name a few.
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Lake County Veterans Service Commission is to provide eligible Veterans and their dependents with those benefits to which they may be entitled under federal, state and local law, in accordance with established policies and procedures.
The Lake County Veterans Service Commission shall take those steps necessary to ensure a well-trained staff is available to advise and assist Veterans, their Dependents, and the Widows and Orphans of those Veterans who, by virtue of their service in the military of the United States of America, may be entitled to benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs or any other benefit promulgated under federal, state or local law.
The Lake County Veterans Service Commission shall provide temporary financial assistance to those Veterans or their Dependents who have demonstrated a financial need due to illness, injury, lack of employment, or an unexpected hardship. Determination of financial need shall be made by the Veterans Service Commission in accordance with guidelines it alone shall establish and oversee in accord with Title 59 of the Ohio Revised Code.
The Lake County Veterans Service Commission shall promulgate programs as required by Title 59 of the Ohio Revised Code for services not covered above, such as outreach and transportation of Veterans to medical facilities.
Adopted: February 2002
HISTORY
The Veterans Service Commission (formerly known as Soldiers and Sailors Relief Commission) was established on May 19, 1886, for the purpose of assisting Honorably Discharged Veterans and their Dependents who have met with an unexpected hardship resulting from illness, injury, or have become destitute due to lack of employment.
The law under which the Veterans Service Commission operates is Section 5901 of the Ohio Revised Code. This law designates those persons who are entitled to assistance.
The Lake County Veterans Service Commission is a county agency. Ohio is a unique state that provides such comprehensive support and service to its Veterans. Each of the 88 counties in Ohio has a board of 5 Veterans, appointed as commissioners, who administer the program for their respective county.
“…to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan…”
President Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865
Latest News
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At the direction of President Biden, VA is expanding health care eligibility to millions of Veterans — including all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11 — years earlier than called for by the PACT Act
WASHINGTON — Today, VA announced that all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military — at home or abroad — will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care beginning March 5, 2024. This means that all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Additionally, Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States will also be eligible to enroll.
As directed by President Biden, this expansion of VA health care eliminates the phased-in approach called for by the PACT Act — meaning that millions of Veterans are becoming eligible for VA health care up to eight years earlier than written into law. This is a critical step forward because Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than non-enrolled Veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in overall quality ratings and patient satisfaction ratings. Additionally, VA health care is often more affordable than non-VA health care for Veterans.
VA encourages all eligible Veterans to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411 to learn more and apply for VA health care beginning March 5. Since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law on August 10, 2022, more than 500,000 Veterans have enrolled in VA health care.
“If you’re a Veteran who may have been exposed to toxins or hazards while serving our country, at home or abroad, we want you to come to us for the health care you deserve,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “VA is proven to be the best, most affordable health care in America for Veterans – and once you’re in, you have access for life. So don’t wait, enroll starting March 5th.”
“Beginning March 5, we’re making millions of Veterans eligible for VA health care years earlier than called for by the PACT Act,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. “With this expansion, VA can care for all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11. We can also care for Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty here at home – by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays, and more. We want to bring all of these Veterans to VA for the care they’ve earned and deserve.”
In addition to expanding access to VA care, this decision makes it quicker and easier for millions of Veterans to enroll. Many Veterans believe they must apply to receive VA disability compensation benefits to become eligible for VA health care, but this is not correct. With this expansion and other authorities, millions of eligible Veterans can enroll directly in VA care – without any need to first apply for VA benefits.
This expansion of care covers Vietnam Veterans, Gulf War Veterans, Iraq War Veterans, Afghanistan War Veterans, Veterans who deployed in support of contingency operations for the Global War on Terror (Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Resolute Support Mission), and more.
This expansion also covers many Veterans who never deployed as a part of a conflict but were exposed to toxins or hazards while serving in the U.S. Specifically, under this expansion of care, any Veteran who participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) — at home or abroad – is eligible for VA health care. VA has determined that Veterans who were exposed to one or more of the following hazards or conditions during active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training participated in a TERA:air pollutants (burn pits, sand, dust, particulates, oil well fires, sulfur fires);chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, depleted uranium with embedded shrapnel, contaminated water); occupational hazards (asbestos, industrial solvents, lead, paints including chemical agent resistant coating, firefighting foams); radiation (nuclear weapons handling, maintenance and detonation, radioactive material, calibration and measurement sources, X-rays, radiation from military occupational exposure); warfare agents (nerve agents, chemical and biological weapons); and more. VA will use all available information to determine if Veterans participated in a TERA, including military records and service connection.
VA is executing a nationwide campaign to ensure that as many Veterans as possible enroll. To date, VA’s PACT Act outreach campaign has included more than 2,500 events nationwide, $13 million in paid advertising, 88,000 earned media clips, more than 400 million emails and letters to Veterans, VA’s first-ever text messaging campaign, the creation of a one-stop-shop PACT Act website, and more. This is the largest outreach campaign in VA history, which has one goal in mind: ensure that all Veterans —and their survivors — get the health care and benefits they deserve under the PACT Act.
For more information about how the PACT Act is helping Veterans and their survivors, visit VA’s PACT Act Dashboard. To apply for care or benefits today, visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411. More information on eligibility can be found at VA.gov/PACT.
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At the direction of President Biden, VA is expanding health care eligibility to millions of Veterans — including all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11 — years earlier than called for by the PACT Act
WASHINGTON — Today, VA announced that all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military — at home or abroad — will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care beginning March 5, 2024. This means that all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Additionally, Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States will also be eligible to enroll.
As directed by President Biden, this expansion of VA health care eliminates the phased-in approach called for by the PACT Act — meaning that millions of Veterans are becoming eligible for VA health care up to eight years earlier than written into law. This is a critical step forward because Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than non-enrolled Veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in overall quality ratings and patient satisfaction ratings. Additionally, VA health care is often more affordable than non-VA health care for Veterans.
VA encourages all eligible Veterans to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411 to learn more and apply for VA health care beginning March 5. Since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law on August 10, 2022, more than 500,000 Veterans have enrolled in VA health care.
“If you’re a Veteran who may have been exposed to toxins or hazards while serving our country, at home or abroad, we want you to come to us for the health care you deserve,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “VA is proven to be the best, most affordable health care in America for Veterans – and once you’re in, you have access for life. So don’t wait, enroll starting March 5th.”
“Beginning March 5, we’re making millions of Veterans eligible for VA health care years earlier than called for by the PACT Act,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. “With this expansion, VA can care for all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11. We can also care for Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty here at home – by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays, and more. We want to bring all of these Veterans to VA for the care they’ve earned and deserve.”
In addition to expanding access to VA care, this decision makes it quicker and easier for millions of Veterans to enroll. Many Veterans believe they must apply to receive VA disability compensation benefits to become eligible for VA health care, but this is not correct. With this expansion and other authorities, millions of eligible Veterans can enroll directly in VA care – without any need to first apply for VA benefits.
This expansion of care covers Vietnam Veterans, Gulf War Veterans, Iraq War Veterans, Afghanistan War Veterans, Veterans who deployed in support of contingency operations for the Global War on Terror (Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Resolute Support Mission), and more.
This expansion also covers many Veterans who never deployed as a part of a conflict but were exposed to toxins or hazards while serving in the U.S. Specifically, under this expansion of care, any Veteran who participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) — at home or abroad – is eligible for VA health care. VA has determined that Veterans who were exposed to one or more of the following hazards or conditions during active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training participated in a TERA:air pollutants (burn pits, sand, dust, particulates, oil well fires, sulfur fires);chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, depleted uranium with embedded shrapnel, contaminated water); occupational hazards (asbestos, industrial solvents, lead, paints including chemical agent resistant coating, firefighting foams); radiation (nuclear weapons handling, maintenance and detonation, radioactive material, calibration and measurement sources, X-rays, radiation from military occupational exposure); warfare agents (nerve agents, chemical and biological weapons); and more. VA will use all available information to determine if Veterans participated in a TERA, including military records and service connection.
VA is executing a nationwide campaign to ensure that as many Veterans as possible enroll. To date, VA’s PACT Act outreach campaign has included more than 2,500 events nationwide, $13 million in paid advertising, 88,000 earned media clips, more than 400 million emails and letters to Veterans, VA’s first-ever text messaging campaign, the creation of a one-stop-shop PACT Act website, and more. This is the largest outreach campaign in VA history, which has one goal in mind: ensure that all Veterans —and their survivors — get the health care and benefits they deserve under the PACT Act.
For more information about how the PACT Act is helping Veterans and their survivors, visit VA’s PACT Act Dashboard. To apply for care or benefits today, visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411. More information on eligibility can be found at VA.gov/PACT.
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Veterans Service Center Resources
| Name | Job Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abel, Jami | 440-350-2591 | [email protected] | |
| Fax | 440-350-5980 | ||
| Geffert, Gini | 440-350-5819 | [email protected] | |
| General Info | 440-350-2904 | [email protected] | |
| Hatton, Michael | 440-350-2568 | [email protected] | |
| Hinde, William | 440-350-2569 | [email protected] | |
| Kalal, Steve | 440-350-2904 | [email protected] | |
| Toth, Amy | 440-350-2927 | [email protected] | |
| Warmeling, Jonathan | 440-350-2570 | [email protected] | |
| Wilder, Sarah | 440-350-2829 | [email protected] |
| Title | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Financial Assistance Packet | Emergency FA Packet | |
| Survivors Non Service Connected Pension | 2024 Survivors Pension Packet | |
| Veterans Non Service Connected Pension | 2024 Veterans Pension Packet |
- Who are we?
We are county government employees whose job is to provide services and advocacy for Lake County’s veterans. As County Veterans Service Officers, we act as a liaison between veterans (and their dependents) and any agency from which they may be entitled to benefits such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and state and local agencies.
All of our services are FREE!
- What do we do?
Our staff will help you to obtain any VA benefits to which you may be entitled to by:
explaining available benefits
assisting in obtaining necessary documentation
completing forms and applications
acting as your advocate throughout the entire process
We also offer temporary financial assistance in times of dire financial emergency for basic living needs such as rent, utility bills, food, and prescriptions. We will also help you seek other benefits to assist you on a long term basis.
- Why should you come to us?
County Veterans Service Officers (CVSO) are highly trained professionals. We must maintain state and federal accreditations and certifications. We are trained by VA employees and National Veterans Service Organizations to be able to properly and completely assist you through the sometimes daunting task of obtaining benefits from the VA. Most veterans who use the services of a CVSO find that their claims are processed quicker and more favorably ($$) (based on a study by the Institute for Defense Analysis).
MOST IMPORTANTLY, we are all VETERANS who care and are paid to help you at NO COST!
All Veterans Service Officers on our staff have been trained and accredited by the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers. We also hold accreditation by the VFW, DAV, American Legion, Amvets, Marine Corps League, Ohio Department of Veterans Affairs and the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
| Location Name | Address | City | Zipcode | Website | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran Service Committee | 105 Main Street | Painesville, OH | 44077 | 440-350-2567 |
| Title | Description | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Lake County ADAMHS Board | http://www.helpthatworks.us/ | |
| MyHealtheVet | http://www.myhealth.va.gov/ | |
| National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | https://www.nacvso.org/ | |
| Ohio Department of Veterans Services | https://dvs.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/dvs/ | |
| Veterans Crisis Line | https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/chat | |
| Veterans Health Care Information | https://www.va.gov/health-care/ |