Find veterans benefits contacts for Polk County, Arkansas.
Polk County / Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Polk County. Physical office: Mena, Polk County.
606 Pine Ave., Rm. 19, Mena, AR 71953M-F 0800-1630
Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Benton County, Boone County, Carroll County, Conway County, Crawford County, Franklin County, Johnson County, Logan County, Madison County, Marion County, Newton County, Pope County, Searcy County, Sebastian County, Van Buren County, Washington County, Clark County, Columbia County, Dallas County, Garland County, Hempstead County, Hot Spring County, Howard County, Lafayette County, Little River County, Miller County, Montgomery County, Nevada County, Ouachita County, Pike County, Polk County, Scott County, Sevier County, Yell County.
35 S. 6th St., Rm. G6 (Courthouse), Fort Smith, AR 72901Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
For statewide phone and remote help, see the Arkansas directory.
Contact the listed county or regional service for benefits assistance. Confirm the appointment, eligibility and meeting location with the provider.
Official service information (opens in a new tab) · Official service information (opens in a new tab)
Call the Claim Raven 24-hour VSO prep line to get your records ready before your appointment. Claim Raven is not a VSO office. Your VSO's number is listed above.
Call (833) 387-1649The ACS estimates about 1,290, give or take 228 civilian veterans in Polk County.
By ACS estimates, Polk County has the 32nd largest veteran population among Arkansas's 75 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Polk County | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 37 percent above the Arkansas share; above the national share. | 30 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 17 percent above the Arkansas share; above the national share. | 15 percent | 13 percent |
Veterans 75 and older in Polk County number about 424, give or take 135; their 33 percent share is above Arkansas's 25 percent.
Veterans under 35 account for 5 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Polk County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Women veterans account for 10 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Polk County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
| Measure | Polk County | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $42,900 ± $7,824 | $44,116 ± $994 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $29,464 ± $2,392 | $33,574 ± $252 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 11.8% ± 5.4 points | 9.5% ± 0.6 points | 7.4% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 45.1% ± 7.7 points | 37.8% ± 0.9 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 37.9% ± 12.7 points | 67.5% ± 1.5 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 16.7% ± 21.4 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 90.5% ± 6.2 points | 93.7% ± 0.5 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 14.2% ± 4.8 points | 23.1% ± 0.8 points | 31.8% ± 0.2 points |
Income is in 2024 dollars. These figures describe civilians. Poverty and disability shares use veterans whose poverty status is determined. Census disability measures daily functioning, not a VA service-connected rating. Tables and method.
VA projects fewer veterans here in 2035: about 1,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 2,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 598 veterans in Polk County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 110 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 58 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 74 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 197 |
| 100 percent | 159 |
FY2019: 417 recipients. Change to FY2025: +181.
VA does not publish some small counts. Those show as “Not published.” VA county compensation data (opens in a new tab).
In 2025, lenders reported 48 VA-backed home loans out of 414 home loans made in Polk County (11.6% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $270,000.
The 2026 FHFA one-unit county loan limit here is $832,750. This limit matters for a VA loan only when part of your entitlement is still tied to another VA loan. VA explains remaining entitlement and loan limits (opens in a new tab).
The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 621, give or take 148) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 165, give or take 85; a small survey sample; treat as rough).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $18.1 million in compensation and pension spending and about $18.5 million in medical care spending in Polk County for FY2025.
Fayetteville VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
1100 North College Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72703-1944
New-patient wait for mental health: 20 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 20 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 110 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Mena VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
300 Morrow Street, South, Mena, AR 71953-2523
New-patient wait for mental health: 5 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 6 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 6 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Little Rock Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
10800 Financial Centre Parkway, Suite 175, North Little Rock, AR 72211
about 106 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Muskogee VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
125 South Main Street, Muskogee, OK 74401
about 108 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Polk County is John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans' Hospital (opens in a new tab) in Little Rock, AR, about 110 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Polk County is Little Rock Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Little Rock, AR, about 106 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Little Rock RO (station 350); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Fort Smith National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
522 Garland Avenue Fort Smith, AR 72901
479-783-5345
About 62.8 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock (opens in a new tab)
1501 W Maryland Ave North Little Rock, AR 72120
501-683-2259
About 114.8 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
State veterans cemeteries set their own eligibility rules.
National Cemetery Administration lists checked October 2, 2026. Cemetery coverage and distance method.
These lists use site points within county boundaries. A site may extend into another county.
For VA’s service-location rules, see the presumptive conditions list. A location listing does not establish personal exposure or eligibility.
On one night in January 2024, Fort Smith CoC counted 40 veterans experiencing homelessness (24 sheltered, 16 unsheltered).
AR-508 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).
The HUD workbook reports 27 veterans for the 2019 comparison.
This is a one-night count for the whole CoC area, not a county or annual total. CoC mapping method.
If you need housing help, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. You can call any time, day or night.
Your nearest VA medical center by straight-line distance is Fayetteville VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 479-443-4301. Ask for the homeless coordinator.
VA's FY2026 Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) intake list names these providers. About VA SSVF (opens in a new tab).
Census incorporated places and census-designated places, sorted by ACS 2020-2024 population. Figures are ACS estimates for the whole place, not only the part inside this county. Places are assigned by their 2024 Census internal point and may cross county boundaries. Sources and mapping method.
For the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 then press 1. VA crisis support (opens in a new tab)
Veterans with a qualifying 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability receive a full homestead and personal property tax exemption.
Arkansas helps eligible dependents and spouses of veterans rated 100 percent permanent and total cover college tuition, housing, and mandatory fees after federal benefit deductions.
Ask the office about VA Form 21-0966 to preserve a potential benefits start date while gathering evidence. Check your intent to file deadline.
ACS 2020-2024; VA FY2025; geography/locations/benefits 2026; adjacency 2024. Distances: straight line from county center. Full method.
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.
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