VETERANS CORNER

Updates on Home Town Hero Banners 2023 and Presumptive Conditions for VA Compensation claims

Submitted By: Jeffery Mead

Susquehanna County Director of Veterans Affairs/Veterans Service Officer

The Montrose Area Kiwanis Club Hometown Hero Banner Program is being offered again at $240.00 for initial banner (up for two years) and a two-year renewal for $140.00.   All applications are due by 2-14-2023 and can be found at Montrose Area Kiwanis Club, P.O. Box 275, Montrose, Pa. 18801 or kiwanismontrosearea@gmail.com, and can also be picked up at the Susquehanna County Veterans Affairs Office in the Courthouse. For questions contact Debbie Crisman 570-278-1026, 570-533-1331, or dhc@epix.net.

Particulate matter exposure (including burn pits) presumptive service-connected conditions: Rhinitis, Sinusitis, Asthma, Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea, Adenocarcinoma of the trachea, Salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea, Large cell carcinoma of the lung, Salivary gland-type tumors of the lung, Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung, Typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung, Central nervous system function, Reduced liver or kidney function, Stomach, respiratory, or skin cancer, Breast cancer, Skin lesions, Leukemia, Chronic bronchitis, Cardiovascular conditions, Constrictive bronchiolitis Autoimmune disorders, Crohn’s Disease, Infertility, Migraine Headaches, Throat infections Eczema, and Multiple sclerosis. (va.gov)

Agent Orange presumptive service-connected conditions: Amyloidosis, Bladder, Chronic B-cell Leukemias, Chloracne,  Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Hodgkin's Disease, Hypothyroidism, Ischemic Heart Disease, High blood pressure also called Hypertension, MGUS (Monoclonal gammopathy of Undetermined Significance), Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Parkinsonism 

Parkinson's Disease, Peripheral Neuropathy Early-Onset, Porphyria Cutanea Tarda, Prostate Cancer, Respiratory Cancers including lung cancer, Soft Tissue Sarcomas (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, or mesothelioma). (va.gov)

Camp Lejeune (served for at least 30 cumulative days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987) presumptive service-connected conditions: Adult leukemia, Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes, Bladder cancer, Kidney cancer, Liver cancer, Multiple myeloma, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Parkinson’s disease (va.gov)

Veterans with conditions not listed as presumptive can claim other conditions if they can link their condition to their military services. An example of this would be hearing loss due to working closely to extremely loud military equipment as explained by having their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).  Another example would be an injury they can prove happened while they were in the military that caused their current medical condition.

At Veterans Affairs of Susquehanna County, we have two Veteran Service Officers who are here ready and willing to assist any Veterans seeking to file for VA Compensation conditions they think were caused by and can be linked to their military service, or for any of the presumptive conditions mentioned in this article.

Our office can be reached at the following:

P.O. Box 218 /31 Lake Avenue Montrose, PA 18801 (Courthouse-side entrance facing the green)

Phone: 570-278-5955 or 570-278-4600 Ext. 3045

Fax: 570-278-5977

Email: jmead@susqco.com or twilbur@susqco.com