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Alpena County, MI Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits contacts for Alpena County, Michigan.

Offices for Alpena County

Alpena County Veterans Services

Alpena County Veterans Services

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Alpena

County veterans service contact for benefits and claims questions. Confirm representation and appointments directly.

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

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

Getting help in Alpena County

Alpena County Veterans Services appears in this guide. Call the provider to confirm the type of claims help, current appointment and meeting location.

Official service directory (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 Alpena County

The ACS estimates about 2,310, give or take 283 civilian veterans in Alpena County.

Among Michigan's 83 counties and equivalents, Alpena County ranks 45th by its estimated number of veterans.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureAlpena CountyMichiganUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating31 percent

above the Michigan share; above the national share.

24 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher11 percent

above the Michigan share; below the national share.

10 percent13 percent

Alpena County has about 643, give or take 115 veterans 75 and older, making up 28 percent of its veterans compared with 29 percent in Michigan.

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

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

Income, work and education in Alpena County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureAlpena CountyMichiganUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$44,112 ± $6,063$48,453 ± $466$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$29,212 ± $1,945$38,782 ± $167$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over10.9% ± 3.8 points7.9% ± 0.3 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over33.8% ± 5.9 points31.8% ± 0.5 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6466.4% ± 13.0 points70.9% ± 0.8 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 645.3% ± 4.2 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over93.8% ± 3.0 points95.1% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over23.3% ± 7.0 points24.1% ± 0.6 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 slightly fewer veterans here by 2035; both years round to about 2,000. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Alpena County

VA reports 738 veterans in Alpena County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent190
30 to 40 percent83
50 to 60 percent89
70 to 90 percent225
100 percent151

FY2019: 472 recipients. Change to FY2025: +266.

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 Alpena County

In 2025, lenders reported 45 VA-backed home loans out of 359 home loans made in Alpena County (12.5% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $230,000.

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 957, give or take 132) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 345, give or take 95).

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

VA money in Alpena County

VA reported about $19.2 million in compensation and pension spending and about $21.7 million in medical care spending in Alpena County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Alpena County is John D. Dingell Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Detroit, MI, about 176 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Alpena County is Traverse City Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Traverse City, MI, about 110 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Detroit RO (station 329); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Great Lakes National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
4200 Belford Road Holly, MI 48442
248-328-0386

About 140.9 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Ohio Veterans Home Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
3416 Columbus Ave Sandusky, OH 44870
419-625-2454

About 243 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

This cemetery is in another state. State veterans cemeteries set their own eligibility rules, which can include residency in that state.

National Cemetery Administration lists checked October 2, 2026. Cemetery coverage and distance method.

Cleanup and former military sites in Alpena County

EPA Superfund National Priorities List

Formerly Used Defense Sites

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.

Veterans experiencing homelessness

On one night in January 2024, Michigan Balance of State CoC counted 54 veterans experiencing homelessness (39 sheltered, 15 unsheltered).

MI-500 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 51 veterans for the 2019 comparison. This CoC includes areas that merged after 2019.

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 Aleda E. Lutz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 989-497-2500. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Alpena 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 Alpena County

  • Alpena (city): about 10,154 residents
  • Ossineke (unincorporated community): about 1,019 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)

Michigan benefits

Eligible Michigan veterans receiving benefits at the 100 percent permanent and total rate can request a property tax exemption.

Eligible children of veterans receiving benefits at the permanent and total rate may receive Michigan undergraduate tuition assistance.

See every Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Alpena County

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

Karen Starr

Claims agent · Grand Rapids · MI · About 166 miles away

VA-accredited since 2013 · checked

VA accreditation number 26678

4.4 · 26 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Michigan

Brittany VanDam

Attorney · Grand Rapids · MI · About 166 miles away

VA-accredited since 2022 · checked

VA accreditation number 52707

4.7 · 23 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Michigan

Michael Viterna

Attorney · Belleville · MI · About 181 miles away

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 10216

5.0 · 5 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Michigan

Gregory Hodge

Attorney · Grand Rapids · MI · About 166 miles away

VA-accredited since 2010 · checked

VA accreditation number 17574

4.7 · 23 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Michigan

James Fausone

Attorney · Northville · MI · About 181 miles away

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 10213

4.0 · 23 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Michigan

VA-accredited attorneys in Michigan

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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