Find veterans benefits contacts for Rio Grande County, Colorado.
Rio Grande County / Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Rio Grande County. Physical office: Homelake, Rio Grande County.
Colorado State Veterans Center, BOX 97, Homelake, CO 81135Tues, Wednesday & Thurs 7:30am-12:00pm
For statewide phone and remote help, see the Colorado directory.
Contact the listed county or regional service for benefits assistance. Confirm the appointment, eligibility and meeting location with the provider.
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 601, give or take 112 civilian veterans in Rio Grande County.
Among Colorado's 64 counties and equivalents, Rio Grande County ranks 36th by its estimated number of veterans.
| Measure | Rio Grande County | Colorado | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 37 percent above the Colorado share; above the national share. | 32 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 9 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
Veterans 75 and older in Rio Grande County number about 192, give or take 64; their 32 percent share is above Colorado's 22 percent.
Veterans under 35 account for 1 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Rio Grande County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Women veterans account for 6 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Rio Grande County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
| Measure | Rio Grande County | Colorado | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $45,500 ± $8,075 | $62,496 ± $868 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $37,698 ± $4,700 | $49,213 ± $223 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 7.4% ± 6.1 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 50.4% ± 14.1 points | 27.1% ± 0.7 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 67.9% ± 15.9 points | 77.9% ± 0.7 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 0.0% ± 29.1 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 96.7% ± 4.1 points | 97.2% ± 0.2 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 33.1% ± 11.8 points | 42.6% ± 0.6 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. VetPop2023 projections for small counties show direction only. Projection source and method.
VA reports 257 veterans in Rio Grande County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 51 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 24 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 29 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 78 |
| 100 percent | 75 |
FY2019: 262 recipients. Change to FY2025: -5.
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 28 VA-backed home loans out of 191 home loans made in Rio Grande County (14.7% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $334,000.
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 247, give or take 85) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 180, give or take 94; 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 $8.4 million in compensation and pension spending and about $5.8 million in medical care spending in Rio Grande County for FY2025.
Grand Junction VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
2121 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501-6428
New-patient wait for mental health: 24 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 27 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 158 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Alamosa VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
622 Del Sol Drive, Alamosa, CO 81101-8548
New-patient wait for primary care: 36 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for mental health: 42 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 30 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Farmington Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
4251 East Main Street, Suite A, Farmington, NM 87402
about 106 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Albuquerque VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
500 Gold Ave., SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
about 166 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
Outside Colorado, in Albuquerque, NM, Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab) is Rio Grande County's second-nearest medical center, about 168 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Outside Colorado, in Farmington, NM, Farmington (Hopi) Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Rio Grande County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 106 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Denver RO (station 339); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Santa Fe National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
501 N Guadalupe Street Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-988-6400
About 126.7 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado (opens in a new tab)
2830 Riverside Pkwy Grand Junction, CO 81501
970-263-8986
About 156.6 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.
VA-recognized State Veterans Homes listed in VA's FY2025 per diem list, September 2024. VA State Home list (opens in a new tab).
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, Colorado Balance of State CoC counted 197 veterans experiencing homelessness (57 sheltered, 140 unsheltered).
CO-500 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid). This Balance of State area covers communities outside separate local CoCs.
The HUD workbook reports 240 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 Grand Junction VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 970-242-0731. 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)
Qualifying Colorado veterans with a service-connected disability receive an exemption on half of the first $200,000 of primary residence value.
Eligible dependents of permanently disabled Colorado National Guardsmen receive tuition assistance for up to eight semesters, with qualifying room and board support.
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.
Are you Sean Kendall? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, free
Are you Tiffanie Graham? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, free
Are you Timothy Franklin? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeAre you Brett Bailey? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, free
Are you Bradley Cummings? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeVA-accredited attorneys in Colorado
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.
Directories cover all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Choose another state.