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San Luis Obispo County, CA Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

The county lists appointment services in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. Its Arroyo Grande location is marked temporarily closed.

San Luis Obispo County has about 14,600 veterans, and veterans 75 and older make up 38 percent of the county’s veterans, above California’s 30 percent. The county lists claims appointment services in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. An accredited VSO representative can help with claims at no cost; call 805-781-5766 or use the county appointment link to arrange an in-person or phone appointment. No walk-ins are offered, so confirm the open location before traveling. CalVet provides information and referrals, not accredited claims help; tell CalVet your county and ask for the current local or regional claims contact, then confirm appointment options with the provider. The San Luis Obispo VA Clinic and San Luis Obispo Vet Center are each 14 miles away in a straight line from the county center.

Offices for San Luis Obispo County

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

Getting help in San Luis Obispo County

Call 805-781-5766 or use the county appointment link for an in-person or phone appointment. No walk-ins are offered. Confirm the open location before traveling.

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 San Luis Obispo County

The ACS estimates about 14,600, give or take 798 civilian veterans in San Luis Obispo County.

By ACS estimates, San Luis Obispo County has the 21st largest veteran population among California's 58 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureSan Luis Obispo CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating27 percent

below the California share; below the national share.

29 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher9 percent

below the California share; below the national share.

12 percent13 percent

Veterans 75 and older in San Luis Obispo County number about 5,510, give or take 353; their 38 percent share is above California's 30 percent.

San Luis Obispo County has about 662, give or take 195 veterans under 35, making up 5 percent of its veterans compared with 10 percent in California.

San Luis Obispo County has about 901, give or take 216 women veterans, making up 6 percent of its veterans compared with 9 percent in California.

Income, work and education in San Luis Obispo County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureSan Luis Obispo CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$62,229 ± $3,379$59,258 ± $574$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$42,320 ± $937$43,129 ± $137$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over5.0% ± 1.5 points8.0% ± 0.2 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over31.4% ± 3.0 points30.5% ± 0.3 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6477.6% ± 6.9 points72.5% ± 0.5 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 644.8% ± 2.8 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over98.1% ± 0.7 points95.2% ± 0.1 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over36.1% ± 3.0 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 11,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 14,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in San Luis Obispo County

VA reports 4,461 veterans in San Luis Obispo County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent1,236
30 to 40 percent507
50 to 60 percent499
70 to 90 percent1,132
100 percent1,087

FY2019: 3,782 recipients. Change to FY2025: +679.

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 San Luis Obispo County

In 2025, lenders reported 200 VA-backed home loans out of 4,840 home loans made in San Luis Obispo County (4.1% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $758,000.

The 2026 FHFA one-unit county loan limit here is $1,000,500. 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 5,730, give or take 509) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 2,330, give or take 392).

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

VA money in San Luis Obispo County

VA reported about $114.4 million in compensation and pension spending and about $66.6 million in medical care spending in San Luis Obispo County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to San Luis Obispo County is Sepulveda VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Sepulveda, CA, about 137 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to San Luis Obispo County is Bakersfield Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Bakersfield, CA, about 81 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

Bakersfield National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
30338 E Bear Mountain Boulevard Arvin, CA 93203
661-867-2250

About 100.9 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
2900 Parker Flats Rd Seaside, CA 93955
831-393-9371

About 114.5 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 San Luis Obispo County

EPA Superfund National Priorities List

Formerly Used Defense Sites

More former defense sites (11)

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, San Luis Obispo County CoC counted 49 veterans experiencing homelessness (3 sheltered, 46 unsheltered).

CA-614 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 144 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 Fresno VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 559-225-6100. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo County

The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo County

  • San Luis Obispo (city): about 48,491 residents
  • El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles) (city): about 31,446 residents
  • Atascadero (city): about 29,712 residents
  • Arroyo Grande (city): about 18,372 residents
  • Nipomo (unincorporated community): about 17,516 residents
More places (25)
  • Los Osos (unincorporated community): about 14,166 residents
  • Grover Beach (city): about 12,604 residents
  • Morro Bay (city): about 10,692 residents
  • Templeton (unincorporated community): about 9,580 residents
  • Pismo Beach (city): about 8,014 residents
  • California Polytechnic State University (unincorporated community): about 7,915 residents
  • Oceano (unincorporated community): about 7,128 residents
  • Cambria (unincorporated community): about 5,978 residents
  • Lake Nacimiento (unincorporated community): about 3,339 residents
  • San Miguel (unincorporated community): about 3,227 residents
  • Cayucos (unincorporated community): about 2,427 residents
  • Callender (unincorporated community): about 2,230 residents
  • Woodlands (unincorporated community): about 2,061 residents
  • Los Ranchos (unincorporated community): about 1,467 residents
  • Avila Beach (unincorporated community): about 1,303 residents
  • Shandon (unincorporated community): about 1,169 residents
  • Santa Margarita (unincorporated community): about 1,149 residents
  • Blacklake (unincorporated community): about 983 residents
  • Edna (unincorporated community): about 330 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Whitley Gardens (unincorporated community): about 244 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Garden Farms (unincorporated community): about 241 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • San Simeon (unincorporated community): about 217 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Los Berros (unincorporated community): about 145 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Oak Shores (unincorporated community): about 128 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Creston (unincorporated community): about 0 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. The summary paragraph was drafted by AI from the facts on this page and checked automatically against them. Full method.

VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents near San Luis Obispo County

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

Scott Lehman

Attorney · Tustin · CA · About 193 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 60962

4.4 · 102 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: California

John Unruh

Attorney · San Francisco · CA · About 216 miles away

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 10212

4.5 · 72 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: California

Andrew McKeown

Attorney · San Diego · CA · About 266 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 193 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 60520

4.4 · 102 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: California

Sengthiene Bosavanh

Attorney · Sacramento · CA · About 217 miles away

VA-accredited since 2016 · checked

VA accreditation number 38632

4.6 · 106 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: California

VA-accredited attorneys in California

Claim Raven is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We do not recommend or endorse any attorney or claims agent. Listings come from VA's public accreditation records. Paid placements are advertising. Check an attorney's accreditation on VA's accreditation search (opens in a new tab) before you hire them.

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