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Grand Traverse County, MI Veterans Service Office (VSO)

Find veterans benefits contacts for Grand Traverse County, Michigan.

Offices for Grand Traverse County

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

Getting help in Grand Traverse County

Grand Traverse County Veterans Affairs 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 Grand Traverse County

The ACS estimates about 5,110, give or take 509 civilian veterans in Grand Traverse County.

By ACS estimates, Grand Traverse County has the 22nd largest veteran population among Michigan's 83 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureGrand Traverse CountyMichiganUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating28 percent

above the Michigan share; below the national share.

24 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher12 percent

above the Michigan share; below the national share.

10 percent13 percent

Grand Traverse County has about 1,500, give or take 177 veterans 75 and older; both the county and Michigan round to a 29 percent share.

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

Women veterans in Grand Traverse County number about 448, give or take 129; their 9 percent share is above Michigan's 8 percent.

Income, work and education in Grand Traverse County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureGrand Traverse CountyMichiganUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$48,054 ± $4,578$48,453 ± $466$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$41,997 ± $1,153$38,782 ± $167$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over7.1% ± 3.3 points7.9% ± 0.3 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over31.1% ± 5.4 points31.8% ± 0.5 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6473.4% ± 8.9 points70.9% ± 0.8 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 641.6% ± 2.7 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over95.9% ± 1.7 points95.1% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over30.0% ± 4.0 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 fewer veterans here in 2035: about 4,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 5,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Grand Traverse County

VA reports 1,710 veterans in Grand Traverse County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent458
30 to 40 percent210
50 to 60 percent213
70 to 90 percent458
100 percent371

FY2019: 1,352 recipients. Change to FY2025: +358.

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 Grand Traverse County

In 2025, lenders reported 120 VA-backed home loans out of 2,514 home loans made in Grand Traverse County (4.8% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $415,000.

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 1,640, give or take 266) and post-9/11 only (about 764, give or take 261).

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

VA money in Grand Traverse County

VA reported about $44.0 million in compensation and pension spending and about $34.2 million in medical care spending in Grand Traverse County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Grand Traverse County is Oscar G. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility (opens in a new tab) in Iron Mountain, MI, about 143 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Grand Traverse County is Escanaba Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Escanaba, MI, about 103 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 160.6 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
N2665 Hwy QQ King, WI 54946
715-256-5000

About 178.8 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 Grand Traverse 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, Grand Traverse, Antrim, Leelanau Counties CoC counted 8 veterans experiencing homelessness (7 sheltered, 1 unsheltered).

MI-512 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 6 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 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 Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse County

  • Traverse City (city): about 15,593 residents
  • Kingsley (village): about 1,785 residents
  • Chums Corner (unincorporated community): about 1,186 residents
  • Grawn (unincorporated community): about 800 residents
  • Interlochen (unincorporated community): about 791 residents
More places (1)
  • Fife Lake (village): about 343 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 Grand Traverse County

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

Joshua Traeger

Attorney · Traverse City · MI · In your county

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 57470

5.0 · 20 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Michigan

Robert Steed

Attorney · Eastport · MI · About 27 miles away

VA-accredited since 2017 · checked

VA accreditation number 42353

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Your state: Michigan

Patrick McDonald

Attorney · Interlochen · MI · About 34 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 61040

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Your state: Michigan

Karen Starr

Claims agent · Grand Rapids · MI · About 117 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

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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