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Boone County, IL Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits contacts for Boone County, Illinois.

Offices for Boone County

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

Getting help in Boone County

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) · Official service information (opens in a new tab)

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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 Boone County

The ACS estimates about 2,310, give or take 373 civilian veterans in Boone County.

By ACS estimates, Boone County has the 34th largest veteran population among Illinois's 102 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureBoone CountyIllinoisUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating25 percent

above the Illinois share; below the national share.

22 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher6 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Boone County has about 667, give or take 165 veterans 75 and older; both the county and Illinois round to a 29 percent share.

Veterans under 35 account for 9 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Boone County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 4 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Boone County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Boone County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureBoone CountyIllinoisUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$53,900 ± $9,358$53,526 ± $625$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$40,807 ± $1,336$43,938 ± $182$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over3.9% ± 3.8 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over31.9% ± 10.0 points29.5% ± 0.5 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6482.7% ± 8.3 points75.8% ± 0.6 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 642.9% ± 5.6 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over90.3% ± 5.4 points95.1% ± 0.3 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over10.5% ± 3.6 points28.4% ± 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 slightly fewer veterans here by 2035; both years round to about 2,000. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Boone County

VA reports 629 veterans in Boone County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent123
30 to 40 percent73
50 to 60 percent67
70 to 90 percent224
100 percent142

FY2019: 490 recipients. Change to FY2025: +139.

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 Boone County

In 2025, lenders reported 62 VA-backed home loans out of 1,096 home loans made in Boone County (5.7% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $297,000.

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 781, give or take 203) and Gulf War (1990s) only (about 516, give or take 239).

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

VA money in Boone County

VA reported about $16.5 million in compensation and pension spending and about $14.3 million in medical care spending in Boone County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Boone County is Edward Hines Junior Hospital (opens in a new tab) in Hines, IL, about 60 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Boone County is Aurora Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Aurora, IL, about 50 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Chicago RO (station 328); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
20953 W Hoff Road Elwood, IL 60421
815-423-9958

About 73.6 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Closer VA national cemetery for cremated remains only

Fort Sheridan National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
Vattman Road Fort Sheridan, IL 60037
224-610-7296

About 51.7 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: cremation only.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Sunset Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
1707 N 12th St Quincy, IL 62301
217-222-8641

About 211.2 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 Boone County

EPA Superfund National Priorities List

Formerly Used Defense Sites

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, Rockford/Winnebago, Boone Counties CoC counted 19 veterans experiencing homelessness (17 sheltered, 2 unsheltered).

IL-501 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 23 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 Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (opens in a new tab), 847-688-1900. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Boone 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)

Cities and towns in Boone County

  • Belvidere (city): about 24,752 residents
  • Candlewick Lake (unincorporated community): about 5,448 residents
  • Poplar Grove (village): about 3,923 residents
  • Capron (village): about 1,311 residents
  • Timberlane (village): about 1,278 residents
More places (3)
  • Garden Prairie (unincorporated community): about 403 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Argyle (unincorporated community): about 324 residents
  • Caledonia (village): about 226 residents

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)

Illinois benefits

Illinois provides a primary residence assessment exemption for qualifying veterans rated 70 to 100 percent service-connected.

Dependents of qualifying Illinois veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total disability can receive a public college scholarship.

See every Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Boone County

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

Jeremy Bergstrom

Attorney · Caledonia · IL · In your county

VA-accredited since 2012 · checked

VA accreditation number 23821

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

Your state: Illinois

Harold Conick

Attorney · Wheaton · IL · About 50 miles away

VA-accredited since 2011 · checked

VA accreditation number 19375

4.4 · 52 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Illinois

Edward Farmer

Attorney · Warrenville · IL · About 50 miles away

VA-accredited since 2011 · checked

VA accreditation number 18849

5.0 · 64 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Illinois

Andrew Pettit

Attorney · Warrenville · IL · About 50 miles away

VA-accredited since 2025 · checked

VA accreditation number 59766

5.0 · 64 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Illinois

Floretta Leavy

Claims agent · Rockford · IL · About 17 miles away

VA-accredited since 2014 · checked

VA accreditation number 30563

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

Your state: Illinois

VA-accredited attorneys in Illinois

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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