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Imperial County, CA Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find Imperial County veterans services in El Centro. Compare the published contact details and schedules below before choosing a location.

Offices for Imperial County

Type of help
Claims assistance
Location
El Centro

County veterans benefits and claims assistance. Use the county veterans office number for benefits and claims assistance. This is separate from VA medical appointment scheduling.

217 South 10th Street, El Centro, CA 92243

Current service officer hours are not stated on the reviewed contact page. Call before visiting.

For statewide phone and remote help, see the California directory.

Getting help in Imperial County

Current service officer hours are not stated on the reviewed contact page. Call before visiting. Use the county veterans office number for benefits and claims assistance. This is separate from VA medical appointment scheduling.

Official service and access information (opens in a new tab)

Office closed right now?

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) 387-1649

Veterans in Imperial County

The ACS estimates about 4,440, give or take 553 civilian veterans in Imperial County.

Among California's 58 counties and equivalents, Imperial County ranks 38th by its estimated number of veterans.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureImperial CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating31 percent

above the California share; above the national share.

29 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher10 percent

below the California share; below the national share.

12 percent13 percent

Imperial County has about 1,060, give or take 213 veterans 75 and older, making up 24 percent of its veterans compared with 30 percent in California.

Veterans under 35 account for 16 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Imperial County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 6 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Imperial County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Imperial County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureImperial CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$45,907 ± $13,468$59,258 ± $574$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$25,467 ± $1,160$43,129 ± $137$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over10.6% ± 5.2 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over38.6% ± 5.6 points30.5% ± 0.3 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6470.0% ± 12.4 points72.5% ± 0.5 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 647.6% ± 4.7 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over92.8% ± 2.8 points95.2% ± 0.1 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over17.6% ± 4.1 points35.4% ± 0.4 points31.8% ± 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 4,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 5,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Imperial County

VA reports 2,544 veterans in Imperial County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent495
30 to 40 percent243
50 to 60 percent279
70 to 90 percent780
100 percent747

FY2019: 2,026 recipients. Change to FY2025: +518.

VA does not publish some small counts. Those show as “Not published.” VA county compensation data (opens in a new tab).

VA home loans in Imperial County

In 2025, lenders reported 131 VA-backed home loans out of 1,897 home loans made in Imperial County (6.9% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $415,000.

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).

HMDA 2025 and FHFA 2026 sources.

When they served

The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 1,210, give or take 258) and post-9/11 only (about 946, give or take 388).

For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.

VA money in Imperial County

VA reported about $71.5 million in compensation and pension spending and about $31.5 million in medical care spending in Imperial County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Imperial County is Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans' Hospital (opens in a new tab) in Loma Linda, CA, about 130 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Imperial County is Chula Vista Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Bonita, CA, about 101 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Oakland RO (station 343) and Los Angeles RO (station 344) and San Diego RO (station 377); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Miramar National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
5795 Nobel Drive San Diego, CA 92122
858-658-7360

About 107.1 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Big Sandy Rancheria Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
37387 Auberry Mission Rd Auberry, CA 93602
559-374-0066

About 363.1 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.

Cleanup and former military sites in Imperial County

EPA Superfund National Priorities List

Formerly Used Defense Sites

More former defense sites (54)

Military branch is not listed in the USACE FY2024 property data.

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.

Veterans experiencing homelessness

On one night in January 2024, Imperial County CoC counted 37 veterans experiencing homelessness (0 sheltered, 37 unsheltered).

CA-613 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 61 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 Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 858-552-8585. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Imperial County

VA's FY2026 Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) intake list names these providers. About VA SSVF (opens in a new tab).

VA homeless programs (opens in a new tab)

Veterans treatment courts in Imperial County

The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in Imperial County as of December 31, 2025.

These courts connect participating veterans involved in the justice system with treatment and support. Each court sets its own eligibility rules. National Treatment Court Resource Center maps (opens in a new tab).

Cities and towns in Imperial County

  • El Centro (city): about 44,240 residents
  • Calexico (city): about 38,585 residents
  • Brawley (city): about 27,283 residents
  • Imperial (city): about 21,430 residents
  • Heber (unincorporated community): about 7,312 residents
More places (13)
  • Calipatria (city): about 6,548 residents
  • Salton City (unincorporated community): about 5,988 residents
  • Holtville (city): about 5,617 residents
  • Westmorland (city): about 1,844 residents
  • Seeley (unincorporated community): about 1,182 residents
  • Niland (unincorporated community): about 1,116 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Desert Shores (unincorporated community): about 801 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Salton Sea Beach (unincorporated community): about 453 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • El Centro Naval Air Facility (unincorporated community): about 443 residents
  • Bombay Beach (unincorporated community): about 356 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Winterhaven (unincorporated community): about 234 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Ocotillo (unincorporated community): about 118 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Palo Verde (unincorporated community): about 75 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)

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.

Free tools and help

For the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 then press 1. VA crisis support (opens in a new tab)

California benefits

Qualifying California veterans rated or compensated at 100 percent receive an annually adjusted basic residence exemption.

California Plan A waives public college system tuition and fees for eligible children of qualifying totally service-connected disabled veterans.

See every California benefit by rating

Get ready for your appointment

  • Your DD-214 or other discharge papers
  • Any VA decision letters you have received
  • Medical records you want to discuss

Full appointment checklist

Starting a new claim? Ask about an intent to file

Ask the office about VA Form 21-0966 to preserve a potential benefits start date while gathering evidence. Check your intent to file deadline.

Search or filter California listings

Nearby counties

Sources and method

ACS 2020-2024; VA FY2025; geography/locations/benefits 2026; adjacency 2024. Distances: straight line from county center. Full method.

VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents near Imperial County

Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.

Shelton Holden

Claims agent · Calexico · CA · In your county

VA-accredited since 2018 · checked

VA accreditation number 44127

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Your state: California

Scott Lehman

Attorney · Tustin · CA · About 146 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 60962

4.4 · 102 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: California

John Unruh

Attorney · San Francisco · CA · About 540 miles away

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 10212

4.5 · 72 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: California

Andrew McKeown

Attorney · San Diego · CA · About 82 miles away

VA-accredited since 2016 · checked

VA accreditation number 38803

5.0 · 1 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: California

Alyssa Fogle

Attorney · Tustin · CA · About 146 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 60520

4.4 · 102 reviews · Firm rating

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Your request goes straight to Alyssa Fogle's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: California

VA-accredited attorneys in California

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