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Cherokee County, IA Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits contacts for Cherokee County, Iowa.

Offices for Cherokee County

Cherokee County Veterans Affairs

Cherokee County Veterans Affairs

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Cherokee

Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.

Area served: Cherokee County. Physical office: Cherokee, Cherokee County.

520 W. Main Street, Cherokee, IA 51012

Mon., Wed., & Fri. 8-4:30; Tue. & Thrus. - By Appt; Other times available by Appt

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

Getting help in Cherokee 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)

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 Cherokee County

The ACS estimates about 728, give or take 159 civilian veterans in Cherokee County.

Among Iowa's 99 counties and equivalents, Cherokee County ranks 59th by its estimated number of veterans.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureCherokee CountyIowaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating22 percent

below the Iowa share; below the national share.

26 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher2 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Cherokee County has about 172, give or take 59 veterans 75 and older, making up 24 percent of its veterans compared with 28 percent in Iowa.

Veterans under 35 account for 6 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Cherokee County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 3 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Cherokee County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Cherokee County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureCherokee CountyIowaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$46,713 ± $10,854$50,056 ± $903$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$40,600 ± $4,763$41,543 ± $224$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over7.1% ± 7.0 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over22.9% ± 8.8 points29.5% ± 0.8 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6493.0% ± 9.1 points80.4% ± 1.2 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 640.0% ± 7.5 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over85.2% ± 11.3 points95.7% ± 0.4 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over6.9% ± 4.3 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

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 disability compensation in Cherokee County

VA reports 242 veterans in Cherokee County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent93
30 to 40 percent23
50 to 60 percent29
70 to 90 percent51
100 percent46

FY2019: 208 recipients. Change to FY2025: +34.

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 Cherokee County

In 2025, lenders reported 16 VA-backed home loans out of 177 home loans made in Cherokee County (9.0% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $203,000.

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 191, give or take 57) and Gulf War (1990s) only (about 165, give or take 101; 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 money in Cherokee County

VA reported about $4.8 million in compensation and pension spending and about $5.6 million in medical care spending in Cherokee County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

Outside Iowa, in Omaha, NE, Omaha VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) is Cherokee County's second-nearest medical center, about 105 miles in a straight line from the county center.

Outside Iowa, in Sioux Falls, SD, Sioux Falls Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Cherokee County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 78 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Des Moines RO (station 333); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Omaha National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
14250 Schram Road Omaha, NE 68138
402-253-3949

About 114.2 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Iowa Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
34024 Veterans Memorial Dr Adel, IA 50003
515-727-3444

About 119.5 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 Cherokee County

No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Cherokee 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, Iowa Balance of State CoC counted 72 veterans experiencing homelessness (59 sheltered, 13 unsheltered).

IA-501 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 77 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 Royal C. Johnson Veterans' Memorial Hospital (opens in a new tab), 605-336-3230. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Cherokee 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 Cherokee County

  • Cherokee (city): about 5,154 residents
  • Marcus (city): about 1,180 residents
  • Aurelia (city): about 991 residents
  • Quimby (city): about 286 residents
  • Cleghorn (city): about 271 residents
More places (3)
  • Washta (city): about 180 residents
  • Larrabee (city): about 147 residents
  • Meriden (city): about 138 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)

Iowa benefits

Qualifying Iowa veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability receive a full homestead property tax credit.

Iowa waives disabled veteran plate issuance and annual registration fees for a qualifying vehicle purchased with federal assistance.

See every Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Cherokee County

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

Ethan Huizenga

Attorney · Orange City · IA · About 36 miles away

VA-accredited since 2016 · checked

VA accreditation number 38248

4.8 · 36 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Iowa

Zeferino Gomez-Martinez

Claims agent · Iowa City · IA · About 220 miles away

VA-accredited since 2025 · checked

VA accreditation number 59957

4.2 · 58 reviews · Firm rating

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Your request goes straight to Zeferino Gomez-Martinez's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Iowa

John Flaming

Attorney · Iowa City · IA · About 220 miles away

VA-accredited since 2025 · checked

VA accreditation number 59981

4.2 · 58 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Iowa

Cynthia Letsch

Attorney · Grimes · IA · About 129 miles away

VA-accredited since 2014 · checked

VA accreditation number 31933

4.9 · 36 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Iowa

Mary Hoefer

Attorney · Iowa City · IA · About 220 miles away

VA-accredited since 2010 · checked

VA accreditation number 18007

4.2 · 58 reviews · Firm rating

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Send a consultation request to Mary Hoefer

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

Your state: Iowa

VA-accredited attorneys in Iowa

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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