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

Find veterans benefits contacts for Monroe County, Iowa.

Offices for Monroe County

Monroe County Veterans Affairs

Monroe County Veterans Affairs

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Albia

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

Area served: Monroe County. Physical office: Albia, Monroe County.

1801 S. “B” Street, Albia, IA 52531

Monday - Friday; 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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

Getting help in Monroe 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 Monroe County

The ACS estimates about 275, give or take 68 civilian veterans in Monroe County.

Among Iowa's 99 counties and equivalents, Monroe County ranks 97th by its estimated number of veterans.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureMonroe CountyIowaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating22 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Share rated 70 percent or higher4 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Veterans 75 and older in Monroe County number about 134, give or take 42; their 49 percent share is above Iowa's 28 percent.

Veterans under 35 account for 0 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Monroe County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

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

Income, work and education in Monroe County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureMonroe CountyIowaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$35,417 ± $15,793$50,056 ± $903$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$43,148 ± $4,796$41,543 ± $224$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over6.7% ± 9.1 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over54.1% ± 17.6 points29.5% ± 0.8 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6462.1% ± 41.0 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64Sample too small to reportNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over92.4% ± 6.3 points95.7% ± 0.4 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over25.8% ± 13.1 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 Monroe County

VA reports 179 veterans in Monroe County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent50
30 to 40 percent21
50 to 60 percent31
70 to 90 percent38
100 percent39

FY2019: 164 recipients. Change to FY2025: +15.

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 Monroe County

In 2025, lenders reported 3 VA-backed home loans out of 117 home loans made in Monroe County (2.6% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $278,000.

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 176, give or take 65) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 30, give or take 28; 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 Monroe County

VA reported about $4.4 million in compensation and pension spending and about $3.8 million in medical care spending in Monroe County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Monroe County is Iowa City VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Iowa City, IA, about 81 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Monroe County is Cedar Rapids Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Cedar Rapids, IA, about 91 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

Keokuk National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
1701 J Street Keokuk, IA 52632
319-524-5193

About 88.1 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 66.5 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 Monroe County

No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Monroe 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 Des Moines VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 515-699-5999. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

VA homeless programs (opens in a new tab)

Cities and towns in Monroe County

  • Albia (city): about 3,663 residents
  • Lovilia (city): about 414 residents
  • Melrose (city): about 115 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)

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 Monroe 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 80 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 80 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 58 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 80 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 221 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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