Find veterans benefits contacts for Kent County, Michigan.
Kent County has the 4th largest veteran population among Michigan's 83 counties and equivalents, based on ACS estimates. If you served during the Vietnam era, the county’s largest veteran group is Vietnam era only; Agent Orange exposure questions depend on where and when you served. For free claims help, contact Kent County Veterans Services in Grand Rapids. An accredited VSO representative can help with claims at no cost; confirm availability, the type of claims help, and the meeting location before traveling. The Michigan Veterans Resource Service Center is a referral route to a current Veteran Service Officer or benefits counselor, not a claims representative. The Grand Rapids Vet Center is 8 miles away and the Wyoming VA Clinic is 15 miles away, measured in a straight line from the county center.
Kent County Veterans Services
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.
Kent County Veterans Services appears in this guide. Call the provider to confirm the type of claims help, current appointment and meeting location.
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 24,900, give or take 1,360 civilian veterans in Kent County.
By ACS estimates, Kent County has the 4th largest veteran population among Michigan's 83 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Kent County | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 22 percent below the Michigan share; below the national share. | 24 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 10 percent the same rounded estimate as the Michigan share; below the national share. | 10 percent | 13 percent |
Kent County has about 6,870, give or take 482 veterans 75 and older, making up 28 percent of its veterans compared with 29 percent in Michigan.
Veterans under 35 in Kent County number about 1,850, give or take 343; their 7 percent share is above Michigan's 6 percent.
Women veterans in Kent County number about 2,220, give or take 542; their 9 percent share is above Michigan's 8 percent.
| Measure | Kent County | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $49,148 ± $2,960 | $48,453 ± $466 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $42,258 ± $479 | $38,782 ± $167 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 5.7% ± 1.1 points | 7.9% ± 0.3 points | 7.4% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 28.3% ± 2.3 points | 31.8% ± 0.5 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 78.1% ± 4.0 points | 70.9% ± 0.8 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 2.4% ± 1.1 points | 4.5% ± 0.4 points | 4.1% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 95.6% ± 1.1 points | 95.1% ± 0.2 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 29.5% ± 2.7 points | 24.1% ± 0.6 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 21,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 25,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 6,565 veterans in Kent County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 1,242 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 756 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 855 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 2,039 |
| 100 percent | 1,673 |
FY2019: 5,730 recipients. Change to FY2025: +835.
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 531 VA-backed home loans out of 16,640 home loans made in Kent County (3.2% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $368,000.
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 8,770, give or take 684) and post-9/11 only (about 4,160, give or take 579).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $186.8 million in compensation and pension spending and about $141.1 million in medical care spending in Kent County for FY2025.
Battle Creek VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
5500 Armstrong Road, Battle Creek, MI 49037-7314
New-patient wait for mental health: 15 days (VA, as of April 11, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 2 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 49 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Wyoming VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
5838 Metro Way Southwest, Wyoming, MI 49519-9619
New-patient wait for mental health: 46 days (VA, as of April 11, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 1 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 15 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Grand Rapids Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
2050 Breton Road, Southeast, Suite 100, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
about 8 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Milwaukee VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
5400 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53214
about 123 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Kent County is Aleda E. Lutz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Saginaw, MI, about 85 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Kent County is Great Lakes Bay Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Bay City, MI, about 88 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Detroit RO (station 329); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Fort Custer National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
15501 Dickman Road Augusta, MI 49012
269-731-4164
About 49.6 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
21731 Spring St Union Grove, WI 53182
262-878-5660
About 130.6 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.
VA-recognized State Veterans Homes listed in VA's FY2025 per diem list, September 2024. VA State Home list (opens in a new tab).
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, Grand Rapids, Wyoming/Kent County CoC counted 51 veterans experiencing homelessness (48 sheltered, 3 unsheltered).
MI-506 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).
The HUD workbook reports 48 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 Battle Creek VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 269-966-5600. 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).
The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in Kent County as of December 31, 2025.
These courts connect participating veterans involved in the justice system with treatment and support. Each court sets its own eligibility rules. National Treatment Court Resource Center maps (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)
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.
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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