Find veterans benefits contacts for Polk County, Iowa.
Polk County has the 1st largest veteran population among Iowa’s 99 counties and equivalents, by ACS estimates. Women veterans are estimated at about 2,160, give or take 436. The largest service-era group is Vietnam era only, estimated at about 5,840, give or take 493; Agent Orange exposure questions depend on where and when you served. Polk County Veterans Affairs in Des Moines handles claims. An accredited VSO representative can help with claims at no cost; confirm availability before traveling. The listed Iowa Veterans Benefits Bureau, DAV, American Legion, VFW, PVA and AMVETS service routes are contacts to ask about a current representative and arrange benefits help. From the county center, the Des Moines VA Medical Center is 6 miles away and the Des Moines Vet Center is 10 miles away, measured in a straight line.
Polk County Veterans Affairs
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Polk County. Physical office: Des Moines, Polk County.
2309 Euclid Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
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 21,400, give or take 1,140 civilian veterans in Polk County.
By ACS estimates, Polk County has the 1st largest veteran population among Iowa's 99 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Polk County | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 33 percent above the Iowa share; above the national share. | 26 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 11 percent above the Iowa share; below the national share. | 9 percent | 13 percent |
Polk County has about 4,670, give or take 358 veterans 75 and older, making up 22 percent of its veterans compared with 28 percent in Iowa.
Veterans under 35 in Polk County number about 2,600, give or take 586; their 12 percent share is above Iowa's 8 percent.
Women veterans in Polk County number about 2,160, give or take 436; their 10 percent share is above Iowa's 7 percent.
| Measure | Polk County | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $55,556 ± $3,881 | $50,056 ± $903 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $46,933 ± $772 | $41,543 ± $224 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 5.8% ± 1.6 points | 6.2% ± 0.5 points | 7.4% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 27.1% ± 2.7 points | 29.5% ± 0.8 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 82.4% ± 2.8 points | 80.4% ± 1.2 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 4.9% ± 1.9 points | 3.0% ± 0.6 points | 4.1% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 97.1% ± 0.8 points | 95.7% ± 0.4 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 32.0% ± 2.9 points | 23.8% ± 0.8 points | 31.8% ± 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 19,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 24,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 7,965 veterans in Polk County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 2,131 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 1,057 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 1,037 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 1,958 |
| 100 percent | 1,782 |
FY2019: 6,439 recipients. Change to FY2025: +1,526.
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 727 VA-backed home loans out of 13,877 home loans made in Polk County (5.2% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $312,000.
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 5,840, give or take 493) and post-9/11 only (about 4,410, give or take 695).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $203.6 million in compensation and pension spending and about $234.1 million in medical care spending in Polk County for FY2025.
Des Moines VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
3600 30th Street, Des Moines, IA 50310-5753
New-patient wait for mental health: 54 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 6 miles in a straight line from the county center.
South Des Moines VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
1211 East Army Post Road, Des Moines, IA 50315-5957
New-patient wait for primary care: 37 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 11 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Des Moines Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
1821 22nd Street, Suite 115, West Des Moines, IA 50266
about 10 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Des Moines VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
about 7 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Polk County is Iowa City VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Iowa City, IA, about 104 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Polk County is Cedar Rapids Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Cedar Rapids, IA, about 99 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Des Moines RO (station 333); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Omaha National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
14250 Schram Road Omaha, NE 68138
402-253-3949
About 138.4 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 22.1 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.
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.
On one night in January 2024, Des Moines/Polk County CoC counted 54 veterans experiencing homelessness (36 sheltered, 18 unsheltered).
IA-502 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).
The HUD workbook reports 57 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'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. The summary paragraph was drafted by AI from the facts on this page and checked automatically against them. Full method.
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.
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