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

Find veterans benefits contacts for Dickinson County, Iowa.

Offices for Dickinson County

Dickinson County Veterans Affairs

Dickinson County Veterans Affairs

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Spirit Lake

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

Area served: Dickinson County. Physical office: Spirit Lake, Dickinson County.

1802 Hill Avenue, Suite 1508, Spirit Lake, IA 51360

Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.

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

Getting help in Dickinson 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)

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 Dickinson County

The ACS estimates about 1,160, give or take 194 civilian veterans in Dickinson County.

By ACS estimates, Dickinson County has the 28th largest veteran population among Iowa's 99 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureDickinson CountyIowaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating34 percent

above the Iowa share; above the national share.

26 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher13 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Veterans 75 and older in Dickinson County number about 428, give or take 99; their 37 percent share is above Iowa's 28 percent.

Veterans under 35 account for 5 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Dickinson County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 12 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Dickinson County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Dickinson County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureDickinson CountyIowaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$59,189 ± $8,481$50,056 ± $903$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$42,629 ± $2,200$41,543 ± $224$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over2.8% ± 2.7 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over36.1% ± 10.8 points29.5% ± 0.8 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6495.9% ± 11.0 points80.4% ± 1.2 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 640.2% ± 5.4 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over97.4% ± 2.6 points95.7% ± 0.4 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over23.7% ± 4.9 points23.8% ± 0.8 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 1,000 on September 30, 2026, and fewer than 1,000 by September 30, 2035. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Dickinson County

VA reports 318 veterans in Dickinson County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent97
30 to 40 percent39
50 to 60 percent29
70 to 90 percent72
100 percent81

FY2019: 280 recipients. Change to FY2025: +38.

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 Dickinson County

In 2025, lenders reported 21 VA-backed home loans out of 578 home loans made in Dickinson County (3.6% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $311,000.

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 405, give or take 92) and post-9/11 only (about 173, give or take 82).

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

VA money in Dickinson County

VA reported about $7.7 million in compensation and pension spending and about $8.8 million in medical care spending in Dickinson County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

Outside Iowa, in Minneapolis, MN, Minneapolis VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) is Dickinson County's second-nearest medical center, about 144 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Dickinson County is Sioux City Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Sioux City, IA, about 88 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

Fort Snelling National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
7601 34th Avenue S Minneapolis, MN 55450
612-726-1127

About 141.3 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 142.4 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 Dickinson County

No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Dickinson 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 Dickinson 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 Dickinson County

  • Spirit Lake (city): about 5,518 residents
  • Milford (city): about 3,311 residents
  • Lake Park (city): about 1,184 residents
  • Okoboji (city): about 969 residents
  • Arnolds Park (city): about 922 residents
More places (5)
  • Orleans (city): about 527 residents
  • Wahpeton (city): about 443 residents
  • West Okoboji (city): about 418 residents
  • Terril (city): about 290 residents
  • Superior (city): about 111 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 Dickinson County

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

Zeferino Gomez-Martinez

Claims agent · Iowa City · IA · About 219 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 219 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 144 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 219 miles away

VA-accredited since 2010 · checked

VA accreditation number 18007

4.2 · 58 reviews · Firm rating

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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

Ethan Huizenga

Attorney · Orange City · IA · About 54 miles away

VA-accredited since 2016 · checked

VA accreditation number 38248

4.8 · 36 reviews · Firm rating

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Send a consultation request to Ethan Huizenga

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

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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