Find veterans benefits contacts for Howard County, Iowa.
Howard County Veterans Affairs
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Howard County. Physical office: Cresco, Howard County.
137 N. Elm St., Cresco, IA 52136Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm; Saturday & Sunday; Closed
For statewide phone and remote help, see the Iowa directory.
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)
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 456, give or take 98 civilian veterans in Howard County.
Among Iowa's 99 counties and equivalents, Howard County ranks 85th by its estimated number of veterans.
| Measure | Howard County | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 24 percent below the Iowa share; below the national share. | 26 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 2 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
Veterans 75 and older in Howard County number about 166, give or take 44; their 36 percent share is above Iowa's 28 percent.
Veterans under 35 account for 0 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Howard County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Women veterans account for 13 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Howard County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
| Measure | Howard County | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $36,342 ± $2,097 | $50,056 ± $903 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $38,390 ± $2,834 | $41,543 ± $224 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 7.2% ± 8.5 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 35.6% ± 12.8 points | 29.5% ± 0.8 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 61.9% ± 11.1 points | 80.4% ± 1.2 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 0.0% ± 35.6 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 98.5% ± 2.0 points | 95.7% ± 0.4 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 30.0% ± 16.3 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not 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 reports 172 veterans in Howard County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 62 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 30 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 19 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 34 |
| 100 percent | 27 |
FY2019: 136 recipients. Change to FY2025: +36.
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 6 VA-backed home loans out of 111 home loans made in Howard County (5.4% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $145,000.
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 221, give or take 83) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 59, give or take 29).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $4.0 million in compensation and pension spending and about $3.6 million in medical care spending in Howard County for FY2025.
Tomah VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
500 East Veterans Street, Tomah, WI 54660-3105
New-patient wait for mental health: 15 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 22 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 101 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Decorah VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
1106 Military Boulevard, Decorah, IA 52101-2451
New-patient wait for primary care: 15 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 27 miles in a straight line from the county center.
La Crosse Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
910 2nd Avenue North, Onalaska, WI 54650
about 65 miles in a straight line from the county center.
St. Paul VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, St. Paul, MN 55111
about 114 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
Outside Iowa, in Minneapolis, MN, Minneapolis VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) is Howard County's second-nearest medical center, about 115 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Howard County is Cedar Rapids Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Cedar Rapids, IA, about 98 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Des Moines RO (station 333); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Fort Snelling National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
7601 34th Avenue S Minneapolis, MN 55450
612-726-1127
About 112.8 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Iowa Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
34024 Veterans Memorial Dr Adel, IA 50003
515-727-3444
About 150.8 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.
No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Howard 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, 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 Tomah VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 608-372-3971. 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 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.
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 Zeferino Gomez-Martinez? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, free
Are you John Flaming? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, free
Are you Cynthia Letsch? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeAre you Mary Hoefer? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, free
Are you Ethan Huizenga? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeVA-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.
Directories cover all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Choose another state.