Welcome
Thank you to every Veteran and military family for your service, sacrifices, and continued strength.
At the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission (LCVSC), our mission is simple: to ensure every Veteran in Lorain County receives the benefits, resources, and support they have earned.
Whether you need help with VA claims, financial assistance, transportation to medical appointments, employment resources, or navigating your benefits, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
As you explore our website, you’ll find clear information on every service we offer and how to access it quickly. We strive to make it easy for you to discover what you need – and to take the next step toward getting the support you deserve.
If you can’t find something or need help right away, our staff is ready to assist. 📞 Call us at (440) 284-4625 or contact us online – we’re here to help.
We are Veterans serving Veterans – supporting you, your family, and our community with honor and gratitude.
Services
VA Claims & Benefits
Schedule Online or Access Other Links
Transportation
Schedule a Ride
Financial Assistance
Determine the Type of Assistance You Require
Need Help?
- Are you struggling to understand your benefits?
- Finding it hard to submit a claim?
- Don’t know where to start?
Whether it’s face-to-face or a virtual appointment, schedule a one-hour consultation with one of our CVSOs and get answers to your questions!
Frequently Asked Questions
The county recorder’s office on the first floor of the administrative building in downtown Elyria. You will need to bring a photo ID and the original or a certified copy of your DD-214. More information can be found here.
An Intent to File (ITF) is a formal notification to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that you plan to apply for benefits but need more time to gather the required documents.
Once submitted, an Intent to File:
- Protects your effective date – meaning if your claim is approved, your benefits may be paid back to the date the VA received your ITF, not the date you finished the application.
- Gives you up to one year to submit your completed claim for disability compensation, pension, or survivors benefits.
It’s a simple way to secure your place in line while you prepare the full application.
- You must first obtain and be able to show an “in-service injury, event, or exposure”.
- You must have a “current diagnosis” from your doctor.
- You will need “nexus statement or medical opinion” from your primary care physician which links your diagnosis to your active military service. Please note that a nexus statement is not necessarily needed for every scenario.
Urgent Care Information
Use VA’s urgent care benefit to treat minor injuries and illnesses that are not life-threatening, such as colds, strep throat, sprained muscles, and skin and ear infections.
If you have a medical emergency, you should immediately seek care at the nearest emergency room or by calling 911.
To be eligible for the VA’s urgent care benefit, you must be enrolled in the VA health care system and have received care through VA from either a VA or community provider within the past 24 months.
Detailed information can be found on the VA’s website by clicking the button below.
The VA offers urgent care services to eligible Veterans at VA medical facilities or at in‑network urgent care clinics closer to home.
To find an urgent care facility:
- Click the button below
- Enter a city, state or postal code
(or click “Use my location”) - Select the Facility Type “Urgent Care”
- Click the Search button
Our History
In May 1886, after the Civil War was over and the US was in the period of reconstruction, the Ohio Legislature created the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Relief Commission. The state legislature felt a need to repay the debt owed to Ohio’s Civil War Veterans, along with concerns for their families, formulated this set of laws to provide financial assistance for Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and their dependents or survivors.
The Soldier’s Relief Commission functioned for nearly sixty years, providing for Ohio Veterans’ needs, with little change. Each Soldier’s Relief Commission, acting as a separate entity.