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Veterans Affairs

The Susquehanna County Veterans affairs office proudly serves the Veterans of our County and their families.

Anyone with questions about the vast array of benefits available is encouraged to contact the County VA office, and we will be happy to answer your questions and provide assistance. The office is located in the County Courthouse at 31 Lake Ave. Montrose, Pa. and the office hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:30 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. except for scheduled holidays or required Certified Veterans Services Officer (VSO) training.

Individuals may also find complete information on veteran's federal benefits by visiting the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs web site at www.va.gov and state benefits at www.dmva.pa.gov/veterans/pages

Veterans in crisis or contemplating suicide may call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 option 1 or text at 838255 for help

Finally to all our veterans, “thank you for your service” we look forward to serving you.

Veterans Corner

The Susquehanna County Veterans Affairs office writes an article once each month that is published in the Susquehanna Independent (also known as the Susquehanna County Independent). These articles called “Veterans Corner” provide information related to veteran’s issues and benefits. The articles are published once per month and can be found in one of the editions of the Susquehanna Independent.  For your convenience we also make the articles available here on the County website.

Anyone with any questions about the benefits available to Veterans and their family members can call the Susquehanna County Veterans Affairs Office at (570) 278-5955

Fourth Anniversary of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act

Submitted By: Jeffery Mead

Susquehanna County Director of Veterans Affairs/Veterans Service Officer


On August 10th, 2022, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act became law. The PACT Act was the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic exposed Veterans in more than 30 years.


The PACT Act expanded access to VA health care services for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins during their military service. For post-9/11 combat Veterans, the bill extends the period to enroll in VA health care from five to ten years post-discharge. These expansions mean that more Veterans can enroll in VA health care without having to demonstrate a service-connected disability. (www.whitehouse.gov)


The PACT Act removed the need for certain Veterans and their survivors to prove service connection if they are diagnosed with one of the additional specific conditions.


Specific locations and timeframes for presumptive conditions related to particulate matter exposure under the PACT Act:


  • Southwest Asia Theater of Operations: August 2, 1990, to the present (includes Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the United Arab Emirates). 
  • Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Syria, or Djibouti: September 19, 2001, to the present. 


Veterans and service members (living or deceased) who, according to DOD records, served in the military campaigns or theater of operations listed below will be automatically included in the VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry:


  • Operations and Campaigns: Desert Shield and Desert Storm (ODS/S); Iraqi Freedom (OIF); Enduring Freedom (OEF); and New Dawn (OND) (from August 2, 1990 - August 31, 2021) 
  • Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, and waters of the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea (from August 2, 1990 - August 31, 2021)
  • The Southwest Asia theater of military operations and Egypt (from August 2, 1990 - August 31, 2021)
  • Afghanistan, Djibouti, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, or Yemen (from September 11, 2001 - August 31, 2021)
  • Associated airspaces of the countries and bodies of water listed above.

Burn pit /particulate matter exposure conditions presumptive (no need to prove service connection for condition): 


The following are cancer Burn pit /particulate matter exposure presumptive conditions:

  • Acute leukemia
  • Adenocarcinoma of the trachea
  • Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung
  • Chronic leukemia
  • Brain cancer
  • Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
  • Glioblastoma
  • Head cancer of any type
  • Kidney cancer
  • Large cell carcinoma of the lung
  • Lymphatic cancer of any type
  • Lymphoma of any type
  • Melanoma
  • Multiple myelomas
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Myelofibrosis
  • Neck cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Reproductive cancer of any type
  • Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type
  • Salivary gland-type tumors of the lung
  • Salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea
  • Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung
  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx
  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea
  • Typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung
  • Urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers

These illnesses are now Burn pit /particulate matter exposure presumptive:

  • Asthma that was diagnosed after service
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Chronic rhinitis
  • Chronic sinusitis
  • Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
  • Emphysema
  • Granulomatous disease
  • Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
  • Pleuritis
  • Pulmonary fibrosis
  • Sarcoidosis (va.gov)


The PACT Act expanded presumptions to Veterans for Agent Orange exposure, a chemical the U.S. military used during the Vietnam War. American Samoa, Cambodia, Guam, Johnston Atoll, Laos and Thailand would all be added to the list of locations where Veterans are presumed to have been exposed to the chemical. (tuckerdisability.com via va.gov) 

Specific locations and timeframes for presumptive conditions related to Agent Orange under the PACT Act:


  • Republic of Vietnam: January 9, 1962, to May 7, 1975, according to VA.gov. 
  • Thailand (US or Royal Thai Airbase): January 9, 1962, to June 30, 1976, according to VA.gov. 
  • Laos: December 1, 1965, to September 30, 1969, according to VA.gov. 
  • Certain Provinces in Cambodia: April 16, 1969, to April 30, 1969, according to VA.gov. 
  • Guam or American Samoa (or their territorial waters): January 9, 1962, to July 31, 1980, according to VA.gov. 
  • Johnston Atoll or a ship that called there: January 1, 1972, to September 30, 1977, according to VA.gov. 


Agent Orange presumptive conditions prior to PACT ACT:


PACT ACT Agent Orange presumptive conditions:

  • High blood pressure (also called hypertension)
  • Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)(va.gov)


Part of the PACT Act was the Camp Lejeune Justice Act eliminates burdensome red tape to ensure that those exposed to toxic chemicals, including service members, Marine dependents, civil servants, and contractors, can receive their day in court.  (gregmurphy.house.gov) 


NOTE: This is totally separate from a Veteran applying for VA compensation due to exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.  Any Veteran Service Officer can assist with applying for VA compensation at no charge to the Veteran or the Veteran can file a claim online through va.gov.  To be eligible for a presumptive service connection, Veterans must have served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 cumulative days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and later developed one of the following eight 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)


Upcoming Veteran Events:


Gulf War/Global War on Terror Veterans Support Group at Lenox/Elk Mountain VFW Post 8488 every First Monday of Month at 5:30 PM. No group September 7th due to Labor Day Holiday. Next meeting is October 5th at 5:30PM.


Vietnam Veterans Support Group at Lenox/Elk Mountain VFW Post 8488 every 1st and 3rd Monday at 10:30 AM.  No group September 7th due to Labor Day Holiday. Next meetings are August 17th, September 21st & October 5th at 10:30AM.  


For Veteran Individual Readjustment Vet Center Counseling at Lenox/Elk Mountain VFW Post 8488 call Rob at 570-239-5191


Java for Joes August 13th & September 10th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 at 798 Erie Ave Susquehanna, Pa at the Erie & Main Coffee House the Second Thursday of the month, contact Melissa Dubas 607-765-1366


Patriots in the Park 10AM-2PM Saturday September 12th Mt. Pisgah State Park, 28 Entrance Rd, Troy PA 16947 -area of the Nature Center and Hilltop Pavilion, RSVP on Facebook.


Mental Health First Aid -teaches how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse challenges, Saturday September 26th, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, 270 Lake Ave, Montrose PA 18801, to register contact Katie Sencer 570-290-8118


At Veterans Affairs of Susquehanna County, we have two Veteran Service Officers who are here ready and willing to assist any Veterans who are seeking to file for VA Compensation for any of the presumptive conditions mentioned in this article and applying for State Veteran benefits.


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


Contact Information

Veterans Affairs
Department of Veterans Affairs
31 Lake Avenue (PO Box 218)
Montrose, PA 18801

Telephone: (570) 278-5955
Fax: (570) 278-5977

Jeffery Mead, Director / VSO

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